The State in Ancient India: A Study in the Structure and Practical Working of Political Institutions in North India in Ancient Times c12.82

c12.82

¹ For the accession of Aśoka, Dīpavaṃśa, VI, 18, 24: Mahāvaṃśa, V, 34. Buddhaghosa, Samantapāsādikā, p. 300. The comparison of the dates of the foreign monarchs with the regnal years mentioned in Aśoka's edicts yields slightly divergent dates of Aśoka's accession. Jayaswal (J.A.S.B., New Series, 1913, p. 217) holds that Aśoka ascended the throne in 276 B.C. and was consecrated in 272 B.C. See also Senart (Ind. Ant., XX, 242). For the reign of Aśoka, Corpus Inscriptionum Indicarum, Vol. I, New Edition, by Hultzsch. For a criticism, B. M. Barua, Indian Historical Quarterly, II, March, 1926, pp. 88 et seq. Cunningham's old edition (1877) is still useful for topographical details. Senart, Inscriptions de Piyadāsi, the first reconstruction of Aśoka's history from the inscriptions, is valuable. For its translation, Indian Antiquary. For further discussions, F. W. Thomas, J.R.A.S., 1914, 1915, 1919. Fleet, J.R.A.S., 1903, 1904, 1908, 1909, 1910, 1911. Gauri Shankar Hira Chand Ojha and Shyam Sundar Das, Aśoka kī Pradhāna Dharmalipiyāṅ (Hindi) in Devī Prasāda Aitihāsika Pustakamālā, No. 4. Among modern narrations may be mentioned V.A. Smith, Aśoka (Rulers of India Series), 3rd edition; D. R. Bhandarkar, Aśoka (Carmichael Lectures, 1923). The Tāmil Saṅgam author Māmūlnār makes several references to Mauryan invasions of the south and says that the Mauryas advanced into Tāmil territory as far as Mohur (S. Krishnaswamy Aiyangar, Beginnings of South Indian History, Ch. II; also Contributions of South India to Indian Culture). But these references can only relate to Aśoka's predecessors. On the relations of the Mauryas with the south, see also Tārānātha, Schiefner, p. 89.