The Mauryan Polity c11.s1.t3.31

c11.s1.t3.31

These sentiments and beliefs are more characteristic of the Brahmanical Hinduism. A student of Sanskrit literature knows that most of the ideas that find expression in the Edicts are in no way new but are found scattered in ancient Hindu literature, especially the didactic epics. The dharma entrusted to the Kṣatriya is something real and fruitful, testifying to one's own self, stable, and tending to the common good.⁴ Perhaps parikṣa in the Edicts stands for ātmasākṣikam of the Śānti parvan, and mahāphala is the phala bhūyiṣṭha of the verse referred to above.