The PPP is for the students of UG not for my API.

1. EdictsofTheMauryaEmperorAsoka
(273-236BCE)
Rock Edict II of Ashoka
Sachin Kr. Tiwary
An edict is a decree or announcement of a law, often associated
with monarchism, but it can be under any official authority.
SarnathPillar

2. Rock
Edict II
Purpose
Medium
Context
Theme
Technique
Types
Place Sources
Introduction- Ashokan Edicts

3. Books

4. Place of
Findings
India
Pakistan
Afghanistan
Nepal
Till today we have the
evidence of Ashokan
Edicts from 04 countries.
Introduction-

5. India &
Nepal
Prakrit
language
Brahmi
script
Pakistan
Prakrit
language
Kharoshti
script
Afghanistan
Greek &
Aramaic
languages
Greek &
Aramaic
scripts
Languages & Scripts
used in Ashokan Edicts
Introduction-
Ashokan Edicts

6. Introduction- Ashokan Edicts
• They throw light on his career, religious
policy and administration.
Total Numbers-
• So far, 52 inscriptions from 43 places.
Name of Ashoka-
• Asoka is generally mentioned in his
inscriptions as”Devanampriya Priyadarsi
Raja”, ‘the king who is the beloved of the
gods and who is lovable to see’.
• His name as Asoka occurs only in his
Minor Rock edict II at Maski, Gujarra,
Nittur and Udegolam.
• The Panguraria Minor Rock edict I alone
refers to Asoka as Piyadasi nama raja i.e.
king named Priyadarsi.

7. Name of Scriber-
• It is interesting to note
that name of the scribe as
Chapada occurs only at
the end of Minor rock
edict II at Brahmagiri,
Jatinga-Rameswara and
Siddhapura.
• The word Chapadena
likhitam is in Brahmi script,
followed by lipikarena in
Kharosthi script.
https://www.parliamentmuseum.org

8. Types of
Edicts
Ma.R.E.
Mi.R.E.
Ma.P.E.
Mi.P.E.
Slab
Edict
Cave
Edict
Separate
Edict
Introduction- Ashokan Edicts
Sannati at Salar Jung
Museum,
Hyderabad

9. MinorRockEdicts&
MinorPillarEdictsofAshoka
: Minor Pillar Edicts
: Minor Rock Edicts
: Minor Pillar Edicts

10. MajorRockEdicts&
MajorPillarEdicts
byDevanampiyaPiyadasi
: Major Rock Edicts
: Major Pillar Edicts

11. Types of Edicts-
• Based on the content and location of the inscriptions, it is categorized into 07 Groups-
1. Major Rock Edicts-The Major Rock edicts are a set of 14 edicts engraved in the same serial
order. They are found from 10 places in the states of=
I. Andhra Pradesh (1),
II. Gujarat (1),
III. Karnataka (1),
IV. Maharashtra (1),
V. Odisha (2),
VI. Uttarakhand (1) in India,
VII. Pakistan (2) and
VIII.Afghanistan (1).
IX. However, all the 14 edicts are completely found only from 5 places, viz., Girnar, Kalsi,
Erragudi, Shabazgarhi and Mansehra.
2. Separate Edicts-
Two separate edicts at Dhauli, Odisha were addressed to the Mahamatras at Tosali and
Those at Jaugada, Odisha to the Mahamatras at Samapa.,

12. 3. Minor Rock Edicts-
Minor Rock Edicts are only two in number, of which Minor rock
edict I are found from 18 places and both Minor rock edict I & II
are found from 7 places-
I. Andhra Pradesh (2),
II. Bihar (2),
III. Delhi (1),
IV. Karnataka (8),
V. Madhya Pradesh (3),
VI. Maharashtra (1),
VII.Rajasthan (2),
VIII.Uttar Pradesh (1) in India
IX. Afghanistan (4),
4. Major Pillar Edicts-
Major Pillar Edicts are found from 7 places-
I. Bihar (3),
II. Haryana (1) and
III. Uttar Pradesh (2) in India.
IV. Only a portion of the 7th edict is found at Kandahar in
Afghanistan.,

13. Major Rock-Edict-
1. Delhi-Topra (Topra Kalan, Yamunagar Dist., Haryana) - I to VII
edicts
2. Delhi-Meerut (Meerut, Meerut Dist., Uttar Pradesh) - I to VI
edicts
3. Lauriya Araraj/ Radhia (Champaran Dist., Bihar) - I to VI
edicts
4. Lauriya Nandangarha/ Mathia (Champaran Dist., Bihar) - I to
VI edicts
5. Rampurva (Champaran disctrict, Bihar) - I to VI edicts
6. Kausambi (Kausambi Dist., Relocated to Allahabad, Uttar
Pradesh) - I to VI edicts
7. Shar-i-Kuna (Old Kandahar, Afghanistan) - Fragmentary slab,
Aramaic script & Aramaic mixed with Prakrit language -
Portions of VIIth edict.
In 2nd edict Asoka defines dharma and claims to have performed many works
of welfare, bestowed spiritual insight in many ways and even provided various
benefits to the bipeds, quadrupeds, birds and aquatic animals.

14. 5. Minor Pillar Edicts-
Minor Pillar Edicts are found from 7 places-
I. Andhra Pradesh (1),
II. Madhya Pradesh (1) and
III. Uttar Pradesh (2) in India
IV. Pakistan (1)
V. Nepal (2)
Sarnath (Varanasi Dist., Uttar Pradesh) - I &
II edicts
In Minor Pillar edict II (Found only at Sarnath in
continuation of the above edict). Asoka says that a
copy of the document should be deposited in the
office (of Mahamatra) and another copy be made
accessible to the lay followers of Buddha, so that on
every day of fast the Mahamatras shall assemble
with them and inspire them to follow this edict. The
Mahamatras and their subordinates should go on
tour to all the places including fortified towns and
convey this message.

15. 6. Cave inscriptions-
03 cave inscriptions of Asoka are found from Barabar hills in
Jehanabad Dist., Bihar as following:
I. Sudama cave
II. Visva Jhopri cave
III. Karna Chaupar cave all are in
Barabar hills (Jehanabad Dist., Bihar)
7. Edict over the Flat Slabs-
Major Rock Edict-
I. Sannati (Gulbarga Dist., Karnataka) - Fragments of slab bearing 12th
& 14th edict & 2 separate edicts
II. Sopara (Thane Dist., Maharashtra) - Fragments of slab bearing 8th,
9th &11th edict
III. Kolkata-Bairath/ Bhabru (Jaipur Dist., Rajasthan, relocated to
Asiatic Society of Bengal, Kolkata) - stone slab edict
Major Pillar Edict-
I. Shar-i-Kuna (Old Kandahar, Afghanistan) - Fragmentary slab,
Aramaic script & Aramaic mixed with Prakrit language - Portions of
VIIth edict.
Asiatic Society of Bengal

16. Places of Minor Rock Edict II
1. Erragudi (Kurnool Dist., Andhra Pradesh)
2. Rajulamandagiri (Kurnool Dist., Andhra Pradesh)
3. Nittur (Bellary Dist., Karnataka)
4. Udegolam (Bellary Dist., Karnataka)
5. Brahmagiri (Chitradurga Dist., Karnataka)
6. Jatinga Rameshwara (Chitradurga Dist., Karnataka)
7. Siddapura (Chitradurga Dist., Karnataka)
The edicts at Siddapura, Brahmagiri
and Jatinga Rameswara are
addressed-
I. to the Mahamatras of Isila
through the Aryaputra and
II. the Mahamatras of Suvarnagiri.

17. Major Rock Edict-II
• In 2nd edict (14th year of the Ashoka c.256–255 CE) of Asoka defines dharma and claims to have performed
many works of welfare, bestowed spiritual insight in many ways and even provided various benefits to the
bipeds, quadrupeds, birds and aquatic animals
• Mentioned about Kingdoms of South India like Chola, Pandyas, Satyapura and Keralputra and Greek (even
mentioned the name of Greek king Antiochos).
Major Pillar Edict-II
• Dharma is good. And what is Dharma? It is having few faults and many goods deeds, mercy, charity,
truthfulness and purity (Moral precepts, Right Behaviour).
Minor Rock Edict-II
• Asoka says that a copy of the document should be deposited in the office (of Mahamatra) and another copy
be made accessible to the lay followers of Buddha, so that on every day of fast the Mahamatras shall assemble
with them and inspire them to follow this edict. The Mahamatras and their subordinates should go on tour to
all the places including fortified towns and convey this message.
• Kumaras and Mahamatras should follow his instructions and pass orders to the Rajjukas, who in turn shall
pass this message of Dharma (i.e. obeying mother, father and elders, treating living beings with kindness and
speaking truth), to the people and local officers called Rashtrikas. In the same way the officers should instruct
the elephant riders, scribes, charioteers and teachers of the Brahmin community that they should instruct
their pupils in accordance with the ancient usage.
Pillar Edict –II Ashoka’s definition of Dharma.
Kalinga Edict – II= Proclamation of edicts even to a single person.

18. Major Rock Edict-II
• Everywhere in the dominions of king Devanampriya Priyadarsin & (of those) who (are his)
borderers, such as-
On South
I. The Chola (Chola dynasty was a Tamil dynasty of southern India),
II. The Pandyas (The Pandya Dynasty was a dynasty of South India, one of the three ethnically
Tamil Lineages, the other two being the Chola & the Chera),
III. The Satiyaputa (One of the most powerful Velir kings of the Sangam era who ruled the region
called Mazhanadu, a part of ancient Kongu Nadu (Western Part of Tamil Nadu & the great
dynasty called Chera Dynasty),
IV. The Kelalputa (Kerala),
V. Tamraparni - An older name for multiple distinct places, including Sri Lanka, Tirunelveli in
India, & the Thamirabarani river that flows through Tirunelveli),
On West
I. The Yona (Yona in Pali & Prakrits, & the "Yavana" in Sanskrit, are words used in Ancient
India to designate Greek speakers. "Yona" and "Yavana" are transliterations of the Greek word
for “Ionians" (Ancient Greek), who were probably the first Greeks to be known in the East
Greek) king named Antiyoga (Antiochus-Antiochus II Theos (c.286-July 246 BCE) was a Greek
king of the Hellenistic Seleucid Empire who reigned from 261 to 246 BCE),

19. Everywhere two (kinds of) medical men were established by king Devanampriya Priyadarsin,
(viz.) medical treatment for men and medical treatment for cattle.
Wherever there were no herbs beneficial to men and beneficial to cattle, everywhere they were
caused to be imported and to be planted. Likewise,
wherever there were no roots and fruits, everywhere they were caused to be imported and to
be planted.
On the roads trees were planted, and wells were caused to be dug for the use of cattle and men.
— 2nd Major Rock Edict. Translation by E. Hultzsch (1857-1927). Published in India in 1925
Major Rock Edict-II

20. Sources-
• Dr. Sthanm Krishnamurthy writeups
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edict
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edicts_of_Ashoka
• https://archive.org/stream/InscriptionsOfAsoka.NewEditionByE.Hult
zsch/HultzschCorpusAsokaSearchable#page/n165/mode/2up
Thank
you
Portrait of Emperor Ashoka with Queen &
along with name, Raya Asoka
Engraved at the top of the shown stone plauqe (100-300 CE) From Kangalhalli,
Gulbarga, Karnataka
Ra ya A so ka