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Inscriptional Excursions in Respect of Asoka Edicts

By B. M. Barua

Vol. 2 · No. 1March - 1926pp. 89–128English

Summary

This extensive article offers a critical review of the epigraphic corpus attributed to Emperor Aśoka. The author begins by recounting the discovery and decipherment of Aśokan inscriptions and summarises earlier readings by James Prinsep and D. R. Bhandarkar. He then re‑examines the geographical distribution of the rock edicts, pillar edicts and cave inscriptions, correlating them with archaeological sites. The essay investigates linguistic peculiarities, such as the use of the Prakrit vernaculars, and comments on script variants between Kharoshthi and Brahmi. Particular attention is paid to doctrinal passages on dhamma, religious tolerance and welfare, which are compared with Buddhist canonical texts. The author also engages with chronological debates, noting that the edicts were issued over several years and that minor rock edicts may predate the major ones. Footnotes discuss epigraphic disputes and propose new readings for damaged portions.

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Conclusion

The excursion underscores the complexity of reconstructing Aśoka’s message from inscriptions scattered across the subcontinent. By synthesising palaeography, linguistics and history, the author shows how the edicts chart the emperor’s evolving spiritual policy and administrative reforms.

Key passages

Chosen by AI from the article's text. Each one is checked word for word against the text before it is shown.

  • “The study of inscribed records of Devanappiya Piyadasi Asoka now extends nearly over ninety years.”
  • “The paramount interest of पिंड lectures Hes in his bold attempt to construct a history of Asoka 85 a man, શ ruler and a tcacher of dhkamma solely relying on the authority of the Buddhist emperor’s epigraphs,”
  • “The recipients of Arokas cave-gifts at Barabar were obviously the same Ajivikas who received some cave-dwellings subsequently from the Mauryan king Dasaratha.”

Works cited in this article

  1. Cunningham’s [nscriptions of Asoka in vol. I of Corpus Inscriptionum Indicarum, published in 1879
  2. Asoka Tex! and Glossary from the pen of Prof. Woolner
  3. the Carmickael Lectures on Asoka delivered in 1૦23 by Prof. D. R, Bhandarkar of the Calcutta University
  4. Dr. Vincent A. Smith lived long enough (0 see his work on Asoka pass through a third edition
  5. Dr. Buhler’s ટક of Asoka in the Epigraphia Indica, vols. I and 11

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In this issue

Vol. 2 · No. 1
1–15A Short History of CeylonWilhelm Geiger16–27Stupa and TombB. M. Barua27–38Rasātala or the Under‑WorldNandu Lal Dey38–47The Trade of India (from the earliest period up to the 2nd century A.D.)P. T. Srinivas Iyengar47–52SalihotraGirindranath Mukherji53–67Some old Bengali Books and Periodicals in the British MuseumSushil Kumar De67–76Patañjali as he reveals himself in the MahābhāṣyaPrabhat Chandra Chakravarti77–86A Copper‑plate Grant of Viśvarūpa Sena of BengalHariprasad G. Shastri89–128Inscriptional Excursions in Respect of Asoka EdictsB. M. BaruaCurrent article129–146Principles of Hindu Taxation – Canons of TaxationJ. N. C. Ganguly146–157Hindu Politics in Italian – MachiavellismBenoy Kumar Sarkar157–158Two Seals from CutchD. B. Diskalkar159–176Indian Literature Abroad (In China) IIPrabhat Kumar Mukherji177–180The date of Kaniska and Mr. KimuraSten Konow180–182A Note on Excavation‑work by Medieval BengaleesRamesh Basu183–186Perumal's ApostacyK. Rama Pisharoti186–188A Note on the Evidence of Pāṇini on Vāsudeva‑worshipK. G. Subrahmanyam188–191Progress of Archaeological Research in MysoreC. S. Srinivasachari192–195The Cerebralization of the Dental Nasal in PāliVidhushekhara Bhattacharya195–198Calcutta Imperial Library198–203Ownership of the Soil in Ancient India : The evidence of certain texts discussedU. N. Ghoshal204–214ReviewsNalinaksha Dutt, U. N. Ghoshal, D. Bhattacharya, Panchanan Mitra, Subimal Chandra Datta215–219Select Contents of Oriental Journals

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