The Benevolent Activities Of Emperor Aśoka As Reflected In His Edict.

 Author - Biswarup Chatterjee.



          Aśoka's governance, deeply rooted in the principles of Dharma, emphasized the welfare and happiness of all beings, including those beyond his empire's borders. He regarded all men as his children and made minimal distinction between humans and animals in his policies. His efforts extended to providing medical care for both humans and animals, ensuring the availability of medicinal herbs, roots, and fruits across his empire and in neighboring regions, particularly to the west and south.
 “rājāno sarvarta (tra) devānaṃrpi(pri)yasa rpi(pri)yadasino rājo dve cikicch[ā*]katā manusa - cikichā ca pasu - cikichā ca [ī*] asudani [I*] yāni manusopagāni ca [I*]...... mūlaāni ca phalāni ca yata yata nāsti sarvata hārāpitani ca ropāpitāni ca [I*] pamthesū kūpā ca khānāpitā rva(bra)cchā ca ropita[ī] paribhogaya pasu-manusānaṃ [II*] (2nd Rock Edict). 

        Aśoka undertook several public welfare initiatives, such as planting banyan and mango trees along roads, constructing wells every eight krośas, and building rest houses to provide drinking water for travelers and animals 
 “magesu pi me nigohāni lopāpitāni chāyopagāni hosaṃti pasu-munisānaṃ; aṃvāvaḍhikya lopāpitā ǀ” (7th major pillar edict). 

“aḍha kosikyāni pi me udupānāni Khānāpāpitāni, niṃsiḍhayā ca kālāpitā” “āpānāni me bahukāni tata tata kālāpitāni paṭibhogāya pasu-munisānaṃ” (7th major pillar edict). 

        Within the first twenty six years of his reign, he released prisoners on twenty five occasions “Saḍubīsati-basa-abhisitena me iyaṃ dhaṃmalipi likhāpitā…. ”. According to Pillar Edict IV, he entrusted district governors with the authority to reward and punish impartially, ensuring fairness in judicial proceedings. “lajūkā me bahusu paāna-sata-sahasesu janasi āyatā. (7th piller edict). tesaṃ ye abhihāle vā daṃḍe vā atapatiye me kaṭe… Kiṃti? Lajūkā āsvatha abhītā kaṃmāni pavatayebū, janasa jānapadasā hita sukhaṃ updahevū, anugahinevu cā” (4th major pillar edict) . 

        In Rock Edict XV, judicial officers were advised to practice virtues such as patience, perseverance, and kindness, while avoiding jealousy, anger, and cruelty. 

        A notable reform in Aśoka's judicial system was the three-day respite granted to prisoners sentenced to death. This period allowed their relatives to appeal for clemency, present new evidence, or pay a ransom for their release. If these efforts failed, families could console the prisoners through fasting and charitable acts to ensure their peace in the afterlife “vaṃdhana-vadhānaṃ munisānaṃ tīlita-daṃḍānaṃ pata-vadhānaṃ tiṃni divasāni me yete dine” nītikā va kāni nijhapayisaṃti jīvitāye tānaṃ nā saṃtaṃ vā nijhapayitā dānaṃ dāhaṃti, pālatikaṃ upavāsaṃ va kachaṃti” (4th major pillar edict). 

        Aśoka's actions were driven by his desire not only for the material well-being of his subjects but also for their spiritual growth “Icchā hi me hevaṃ – niludhasi pi kālsi pālataṃ ālādhayedhū ti” (4th major pillar edict). He viewed these activities as manifestations of Dharma and encouraged his people to follow his example by performing virtuous deeds9. Aśoka proudly claimed that his propagation of Dharma had led to a significant increase in moral virtue among the populace, enabling them to connect with the divine. He contrasted this with the practices of earlier rulers, who sought to inspire fear of hell and a desire for heaven by displaying depictions of hellfire and celestial objects, noting that his achievements surpassed theirs in promoting virtue and Dharma.

 . —-------------. 
 Reference :- 

Bhandarkar D.R. Asoka. Calcutta (now kolkata): University of Calcutta, 1928. 

Sircar, D. C. Inscriptions of Aśoka. Calcutta (now Kolkata): Ministry of Information & Broadcasting Government of India, 1967 (Rpt.). (1st edn. 1957).

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