The Political Institutions and Theories of the Hindus: A Study in Comparative Politics c10.s3.t8.1

c10.s3.t8.1

It is undeniable that the criminal legislation of the Mauryas¹ was exceedingly severe. Lengthy was the schedule of capital offenses even under Asoka the Great, benevolent preacher though he was of *ahimsâ* (mercy to animal life) and propounder of the cult of *dhamma* (piety or duty). We have only to observe, however, that the capital list in the East was much too short when compared with that in the West.