The Mauryan Polity c11.s3.t2.15

c11.s3.t2.15

A parallel can be drawn from the *Mahābhārata*¹ where among the other duties of a king is mentioned the duty of looking to the comforts of the elders (*upāsitā ca vṛddhānām*) and helping, among others, those who look forward to only one thing, the other world, and *sādhūs* who stand like the mountain steadfast in *dharma*.² An *upāsitā* is expected to be *jitatantraḥ*, one who has won over lassitude, and *alolupaḥ*, indifferent to sensual objects. This construction is perhaps warranted by the term occurring in the Buddhist works. It may therefore be safely argued that the inscriptions of Aśoka do not bear the test of a declaration of his Buddhist faith but imply his state visit to the *Saṅgha*, where he learnt to love the monks for their purity and transparent sincerity in having renounced worldly pleasures and subjecting themselves to a life of mortification, which, penance of any kind involves. During his sojourn Aśoka must have also learnt the working of the constitution of the *Saṅgha* and resolved to help it in its accomplishment. Hence the Calcutta Bairāṭ Rock Inscription.