Gauthama the Buddha and Maurya emperor Asoka are two of the
greatest sons of India and the world, and their lives and achievements stand
among India’s best contributions to human civilization.
The present English translation of the Inscription of Asoka,
one of the most sincere followers of the Buddha, was undertaken at the request
of the Budda Jayanthi Working committee formed by the Government of India in
connection with the celebration of the 2500th anniversary of the Lords
Maha-Parinirvana. The objective is to carry the message of Asoka’s edict of the
public. Although the translation closely follows the test of the epigraphic
records, it has been made slightly free so that it would be easily intelligible
to the general reader. A sincere attempt has been made to present to the
author’s meaning without slavishly adhering to mere expression. It was felt
that a strictly literal translation might render the message of Asoka difficult
to understand at last for the class of readers for which the book is intended.
The same feeling also underlines the use of the Sanskrit forms of proper names,
etc, in the translation of inscription, which are couched in Prakrit.
The work has not been burdened with citation of references
to authorities in support of any of the points raised, and difference of
opinion among scholars on the interpretation of certain difficult words and a
passage occurring in the inscription has been indicated only in a few cases.
But a small bibliography has been appended to the monograph with a view to
helping the more inquisitive among the readers to pursue the study of the
subject.
The historical background of Asoka’s career and records has
been concisely set forth in a short introduction. The readers are expected to
find in the answers to some of the queries that may occur to them while going
through the translation of the inscriptions. The classification of the
epigraphs in this work has also been explained in it. An annotated list of the
personal and geographical names occurring in the records as well as Sanskrit
expressions retained in the translation has been supplied in an Appendix for
ready reference.
When an edict is found in different versions, generally one
of the most well-preserved texts has been selected for translation and its find
spot has been indicated in all cases. Only in a few cases, the texts of some
other versions have been additionally translated either in whole or in part.
This is indented to draw the readers’ attention to important variations in the
different texts of an edict. A few records included in the monograph fall
outside the category of edicts.
One of the passages in which Asoka explains the reason
underlying the incision of his edicts on rock and pillars of stone reads as
follows in translation:
“This records relating to Dharma has been caused to be
written by me on stone for the following purpose, viz., that people may act
according to it and that it may endure for a long time. And he who will act
thus will do what is meritorious” – Pillar Edict II.
The book has been carefully revised in the light of recent
discoveries, and the present edition is expected to be useful to the readers
like its predecessors.
Courtesy: From preface of the book “Inscriptions of Asoka”
written by D C Sircar, published by Publication Division, India.
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