Ashoka the Great

The beloved of the gods, king Piyadasi, speaks thus: Father and mother should be respected, and so should elders, kindness to living beings should be made strong, and the truth should be spoken.

The beloved of the gods, king Piyadasi, speaks thus: It is more than two and a half years since I became a lay disciple, but I did not make much progress.

I have had this inscription of Dharma engraved in order that my sons and great-grandsons may not consider making new conquests, or that if military conquests are made, that they be done with forbearance and light punishment, or better still, that they consider making conquest by Dharma only, for that bears fruit in this world and the next.

King Priyadarsi honors men of all faiths, members of religious orders and laymen alike, with gifts and various marks of esteem. Yet he does not value either gifts or honors as much as growth in the qualities essential to religion in men of all faiths.

The king, far from being indifferent, is concerned with the affairs of all religious groups.

Everywhere has King Priyadarsi, Beloved of the Gods, made provision for two types of medical treatment: medical treatment for humans and medical treatment for animals.

I consider the welfare of all to be my duty, and the root of this is exertion and the prompt dispatch of business.

Wherever there are stone pillars or stone slabs, there this Dharma edict is to be engraved so that it may long endure.

The sound of the war drum has become the sound of Dharma, showing the people displays of heavenly chariots, elephants, balls of fire, and other divine forms.

All men are my children. What I desire for my own children, and I desire that they may obtain welfare and happiness both in this world and the next, that I desire for all men. You do not understand to what extent I desire this, and if some of you might understand, you would not act accordingly. My agents, appointed over many people, are also often attached to certain individuals. One person is imprisoned, another is released. One is tortured, another is not. One is killed, another is not. This is not good. Therefore, it is my wish that there should be uniformity in judicial procedure and punishment.

For a long time past, it has not happened that Mahamatras named Dhamma-Mahamatras were appointed. I have appointed Dhamma-Mahamatras when I had been consecrated thirteen years. They are employed among all sects for the establishment of Dhamma, for the promotion of Dhamma, and for the welfare and happiness of all those devoted to Dhamma.

The increase of spiritual strength is possible in many ways. But the root of it is to guard one's speech, that is, not to praise one's own sect or disparage another's on unsuitable occasions, or at least to do so mildly on certain occasions. On the contrary, other sects should be honored in every way on all occasions. If one acts in this manner, one both promotes one's own sect and benefits the other sect. If one acts otherwise, one harms one's own sect and injures the other sect.

Twelve years after my consecration, I issued the following edict: 'Everywhere in my dominions, the Yuktas, Rajukas, and Pradesikas shall make tours of inspection every five years for the following purpose, namely, for the instruction of Dhamma as well as for other business.'

No living beings are to be slaughtered or offered in sacrifice. Nor are gatherings to be held where many animals are killed. For King Priyadarsin, Beloved of the Gods, sees much evil in such gatherings.

Formerly, in the kitchens of King Priyadarsin, Beloved of the Gods, many hundreds of thousands of animals were killed daily for curry. But now, with the writing of this Dhamma edict, only three animals are killed daily for curry: two peacocks and one deer. And even this deer is not killed regularly. In the future, these three animals will also not be killed.

I have had this Dhamma edict written for the welfare and happiness of all people. For I consider that the greatest happiness is to lead people to the Dhamma.

This Dhamma edict was written by me after I had been consecrated twenty-six years. I have caused this Dhamma edict to be inscribed for the following purpose: that it may endure for a long time, and that my sons and grandsons and great-grandsons may follow it and live according to it.

Thus speaks King Priyadarsin, Beloved of the Gods: I have had this Dhamma edict written so that my sons and grandsons, and as long as the sun and moon endure, may follow it. For by following it, happiness in this world and the next is attained.

It is not possible to achieve great progress by violence. Indeed, it is by kindness and gentleness that progress is achieved.

Thus speaks King Priyadarsin, Beloved of the Gods: I have had this Dhamma edict written for the following purpose: that it may endure for a long time, and that my sons and grandsons and great-grandsons may follow it and live according to it.