Minor Rock Edicts

The Minor Rock Edicts of Ashoka (r. 269–233 BCE)[1] are rock inscript ions which form t he earliest
part of t he Edict s of Ashoka, and predat e Ashoka's Major Rock Edict s. These are t he first edict s in
t he Indian language of Emperor Ashoka, writ t en in t he Brahmi script in t he 11t h year of his reign. They
follow chronologically t he Kandahar Bilingual Rock Inscript ion, in Greek and in Aramaic, writ t en in t he
10t h year of his reign (260 BCE),[2][3] which is t he first known inscript ion of Ashoka.[4]

There are several slight variat ions in t he cont ent Minor Rock Edicts of Ashoka
of t hese edict s, depending on locat ion, but a
common designat ion is usually used, wit h Minor
Rock Edict N°1 (MRE1)[5] and a Minor Rock Edict
N°2 (MRE2), which does not appear alone but
always in combinat ion wit h Edict N°1), t he
different versions being generally aggregat ed in Minor rock edict of Sasaram.
most t ranslat ions. There is also a minor edict
Material Rock, stone
No.3, discovered in Bairat , for t he Buddhist
clergy.[6] Created 3rd century BCE

The inscript ions of Ashoka in Greek or Aramaic are Discovered 1893

somet imes also cat egorized as "Minor Rock

Present location India
Edict s".

The Minor Pillar Edict s of Ashoka refer t o five

separat e Edict s inscribed on columns, t he Pillars
of Ashoka. These edict s are preceded Bahapur
Bairat Bhabruh
chronologically by t he Minor Rock Edict s and may Sasaram
G ujarra
have been made in parallel wit h t he Major Rock Ahraura Mahast han
Rupnath
Saru Maru
Edict s.
Pakilgundu
G avimath Maski
Yerragudi Rajula/Mandagiri
Chronology Jatinga/RameshwaraSiddapur
Brahmagiri
Nittur
Udegolam

The Minor Rock Edict were writ t en quit e early in

t he reign of Ashoka, from t he 11t h year of his Location of the Minor Rock Edicts (Edicts 1,2&3)
reign at t he earliest (according t o his own
inscript ion, "t wo and a half years aft er becoming a
secular Buddhist ", i.e. t wo and a half years at least aft er t he Kalinga conquest of t he eight h year of
his reign, which is t he st art ing point for his gradual conversion t o Buddhism). The t echnical qualit y of
t he engraving of t he inscript ions is generally very poor, and generally very inferior t o t he pillar edict s
dat ed t o t he years 26 and 27 of Ashoka's reign.[7]

The Minor Rock Edict s t herefore follow t he very first inscript ion of Ashoka, writ t en in year 10 of his
reign, t he Kandahar Bilingual Rock Inscript ion est ablished at Chilzina, Kandahar, in t he cent er of
Afghanist an.[8] This first inscript ion was writ t en in Classical Greek and Aramaic exclusively.

The Minor Rock Edict s maybe slight ly earlier t han t he Major Rock Edict s est ablished t o propagat e
t he Dharma, from t he 12t h year of Ashoka's reign.[9] These Ashoka inscript ions are in Indian languages
wit h t he except ion of t he Kandahar Greek Edict of Ashoka inscribed on a limest one st ele.[8] It was
only lat er, during t he 26t h and 27t h years of his reign, t hat Ashoka wrot e new edict s, t his t ime on
majest ic columns, t he pillars of Ashoka.[9][7]

Text of the Minor Rock Edicts

The different variat ions of edict s on rock 1 and 2 are usually present ed in t he form of a
compilat ion.[10] There is also a minor edict on Rock No.3, discovered in Bairat only, addressing not t he
Ashoka officers as t he first t wo edict s, but t he Buddhist clergy, wit h t he recommendat ion t o st udy a
very specific list of Buddhist script ures.[11]

In t he Minor Rock Edict s, Ashoka makes explicit ment ion of his religious affiliat ion by present ing
himself as a "lay disciple" or "disciple of t he Buddha" according t o t he versions, and speaking of his
proximit y t o "t he order" (samgha), which is far from t he case in most ot her edict s where he is only
promulgat ing t he moral laws of "Dharma".

Association of Ashoka with the title "Devanampriya" ("Beloved-of-the-Gods")

The Maski inscription confirmed the

association of the title
"Devanampriya" with "Asoka", both
readable in the first line.
 "Devānaṃpiyasa Asoka", honorific
Devanampiya ("Beloved of the God",
in the adjectival form -sa) and name
of Ashoka, in Brahmi script, in the
Maski Edict of Ashoka.

There are slight variat ions bet ween each of t he versions of t he Minor Rock Edict s. The Maski
version of Minor Rock Edict No.1 was hist orically especially import ant in t hat it confirmed t he
associat ion of t he honorific t it le "Devanampriya" wit h Ashoka:[12][13]

[A proclamation] of Devanampriya Asoka.

Two and a half years [and somewhat more] (have passed) since I am a Buddha-
Sakya.
[A year and] somewhat more (has passed) [since] I have visited the Samgha and
have shown zeal.
Those gods who formerly had been unmingled (with men) in Jambudvipa, have how
become mingled (with them).
This object can be reached even by a lowly (person) who is devoted to morality.
One must not think thus, — (viz.) that only an exalted (person) may reach this.
Both the lowly and the exalted must be told : "If you act thus, this matter (will be)
prosperous and of long duration, and will thus progress to one and a half.

— Maski Minor Rock Edict of Ashoka.[14]

In t he Gujarra Minor Rock Edict also, t he name of Ashoka is used t oget her wit h his t it les:
"Devanampiya Piyadasi Asokaraja".[15]

Pre-existence of pillars

In t he Minor Rock Edict s, Ashoka also ment ions t he dut y t o inscribe his edict s on t he rocks and on
t he pillars ("wherever t here is a pillar or rock"). This has led some aut hors, especially John Irwin, t o
t hink t hat t here were already pillars in India before Ashoka erect ed t hem. For John Irwin, examples
t oday of t hese pillars prior t o Ashoka would be t he bull pillar of Rampurva, t he elephant pillar of
Sankissa, and t he Allahabad pillar of Ashoka.[16] None of t hese pillars received t he inscript ion of t he
Minor Rock Edict s, and only t he pillar of Allahabad has inscript ions of Ashoka, which weakens t his
t heory, since, according t o t he orders of t he same of Ashoka, t hey should have been engraved wit h
his Minor Rock Edict s.
Language of the edicts

Several edict s of Ashoka are known in Greek and Aramaic; by cont rast t he many minor edict s on rock
engraved in sout hern India in Karnat aka use t he Prakrit of t he Nort h as t he language of
communicat ion, wit h t he Brahmi script , and not t he local Dravidian idiom, which can be int erpret ed as
a kind of int rusion and aut horit arianism in respect t o t he sout hern t errit ories.[17]

Full texts of the Minor Rock Edicts

Minor Rock Edict No.1

In t his Edict , Ashoka describes himself as a Buddhist layman (Upāsaka)[18] /a Buddha-Śaka[19] /a

Saka,[20] and also explains he has been get t ing closer t o t he Sangha and has become more ardent in
t he fait h.
Minor Rock Edict No.1 (conflat ed versions)

English t ranslat ion Prakrit in Brahmi script

From Suvarnagiri, on the order of His Highness the

Prince, and the officers: good health to the officers of
Isila who are to be instructed thus:
Thus speaks the Beloved of the Gods, Asoka:
I have been a Buddhist layman (Upāsaka)[21] /a
Buddha-Śaka[19] /a Saka[20] for more than two and a
half years, but for a year I did not make much
progress. Now for more than a year I have drawn
closer to the Order (Sangha) and have become more
ardent. The gods, who in India up to this time did not
associate with men, now mingle with them, and this is
the result of my efforts.
Moreover this is not something to be obtained only by Minor Rock Edict No.1 in Sasaram.
the great, but it is also open to the humble, if they are
earnest and they can even reach heaven easily.
This is the reason for this announcement that both
humble and great should make progress and that the
neighbouring peoples also should know that the
The word Upāsaka ("Buddhist
progress is lasting, lay follower"), used by Ashoka
And this investment will increase and increase to describe himself, in most
versions of his Minor Rock
abundantly, and increase to half as much again.
Edict No.1.
This matter must be inscribed here and elsewhere on
the hills, and wherever there is a stone pillar it is to be
engraved on that pillar. You must go out with this
document throughout the length and breadth of your
district.
This announcement has been proclaimed while on
tour; 256 nights have been spent on tour.
— Adapted from Romilla Thapar, A translation of the Edicts of
Ashoka p.259 (http://www.learn.columbia.edu/indianart/pdf/asoka
_thapar.pdf )

Minor Rock Edict No.2

Only appears in a few places, in conjunct ion wit h Minor Edict No.1
Minor Rock Edict No.2 (conflat ed versions)

English t ranslat ion Prakrit in Brahmi script

Thus says the Beloved of the Gods. Whatever the

Beloved of the Gods orders must be carried out in
every respect. The rajuka [rural officer] is to be
instructed and he will instruct the people of the
countryside, assembling them with the sound of the
drum; likewise the local chiefs. Obey mother and
father, obey the teachers, have mercy on living beings;
speak the truth. These virtues of Dhamma should be
followed.

Thus you will instruct them on the orders of the

Beloved of the Gods, and also you will ensure that
elephant trainers, clerks, fortune-tellers, and
Brahmans instruct their apprentices according to
ancient tradition, that they should honour their Minor Rock Edicts 1&2 in Siddapur.

masters.... righteous masters. In a family relatives must

treat each other with respect.

This is the ancient custom, conducive to long life, and

thus it must be carried out.
Carved by the engraver Capada.
— Adapted from Romilla Thapar, A translation of the Edicts of
Ashoka p.259 (http://www.learn.columbia.edu/indianart/pdf/asoka
_thapar.pdf )

Minor Rock Edict No.3

Only appears at Bairat , where it was discovered in front of t he Bairat Temple, possibly t he oldest
free-st anding t emple in India. The Edict is now locat ed in t he Museum of The Asiat ic Societ y,
Calcut t a, and because of t his is somet imes called t he "Calcut t a-Bairāṭ inscript ion".[22][23] Also known
as t he Bhabru Edict .[24] Ashoka claims "great is my reverence and fait h in t he Buddha, t he Dharma
(and) t he Samgha", and makes a list of recommended Buddhist script ures t hat Buddhist monks as
well as t he lait y should repeat edly st udy.
Minor Rock Edict No. 3

English t ranslat ion Prakrit in Brahmi script

The Magadhan King Priyadarsin, having saluted the

Samgha hopes they are both well and comfortable.

It is known to you, Sirs, how great is my reverence and

Minor Rock Edict No.3, from Bairat
faith in the Buddha, the Dharma (and) the Samgha. only.

Whatsoever, Sirs, has been spoken by the blessed

Buddha, all that is quite well spoken.

But, Sirs, what would indeed appear to me (to be

referred to by the words of the scripture): "thus the
true Dharma will be of long duration", that I feel
Rubbing of Minor Rock Edict No.3,
bound to declare:
from Bairat only.

The following expositions of the Dharma, Sirs, (viz.) the

Vinaya-Samukasa ("The Exaltation of Discipline"), the
Aliya-vasas ("The Ideal Mode of Life"), the Anagata-
bhayas ("Fears to Come"), the Muni-gathas ("The Songs
of the Hermit"), the Moneya-Suta ("Discourse on the
Hermit Life"), the Upatisa-pasina ("The Questions of
Upatishya"), and the Laghulovada ("The Sermon to
Rahula") which was spoken by the blessed Buddha
concerning falsehood, — I desire, Sirs, that many
groups of monks and (many) nuns may repeatedly
listen to these expositions of the Dharma and may
reflect (on them).

In the same way both laymen and laywomen (should

act).

For the following (purpose), Sirs, am I causing this to

be written, (viz.) in order that they may know my
intention.
— Adapted from Inscriptions of Asoka. New Edition by E. Hultzsch
1925 p.172 (https://archive.org /stream/InscriptionsOfAsoka.NewEd
 itionByE.Hultzsch/HultzschCorpusAsokaSearchable#pag e/n349/m
ode/2up) Public Domain

Locations

The minor rock edict s of Ashoka are exclusively inscribed on rock. They are locat ed t hroughout t he
Indian subcont inent . Edict N°1 appears alone in Panguraria, Maski, Palkigundu et Gavimat h,
Bahapur/Srinivaspuri, Bairat , Ahraura, Gujarra, Sasaram, Rajula Mandagiri, Rupnat h, Rat ampurwa and in
conjunct ion wit h Edict N°2 at Yerragudi, Udegolam, Nit t ur, Brahmagiri, Siddapur, Jat inga-
Rameshwara.[25]

The t radit ional Minor Rock Edict s (excluding t he miscellaneous inscript ions in Aramaic or Greek found
in Pakist an and Afghanist an) are locat ed in cent ral and sout hern India, whereas t he Major Rock Edict s
were locat ed at t he front iers on Ashoka's t errit ory.[26]
Minor Rock Edict s of Ashoka

Rubbing /
Name Locat ion Map Overview Rock
Close-up

Location of Srinivaspuri near Kalkaji

Temple, in the Kailash Colony, near the
Bahapur area, South Delhi
Minor rock edict # 1 only.[25]
28.55856°N 77.25662°E (https://geohack.to
olforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Min
or_Rock_Edicts&params=28.55856_N_77.2 Bahapur

5662_E_) Local 3D view (https://www.go

Bahapur
ogle.com/maps/@28.5585934,77.2566071,
3a,75y,108.41h,80.7t/data=!3m8!1e1!3m6!1s
AF1QipOvlXXwPlEY6qXVs6D77LtAEkeH1_1
8lKUVZn-O!2e10!3e11!6shttps:%2F%2Flh5.
googleusercontent.com%2Fp%2FAF1QipO
vlXXwPlEY6qXVs6D77LtAEkeH1_18lKUVZn
-O%3Dw203-h100-k-no-pi-0-ya69.55413-ro-0
-fo100!7i2508!8i1254?hl=en)

Near Jhansi, Datia district, Madhya

Pradesh.
Minor rock edict # 1 only.[25]/>Here, the
name of Ashoka is used together with his
titles: "Devanampiya Piyadasi
Asokaraja".[15][27]Full inscription (https://ar
chive.org/stream/in.gov.ignca.67068/6706
Gujarra
8#page/n97/mode/2up) /25.57699°N
Gujarra 78.54594°E (https://geohack.toolforge.or
g/geohack.php?pagename=Minor_Rock_E
dicts&params=25.57699_N_78.54594_E_)
[28]

Inscription "Devanampiyasa Piyadasino

Asokaraja".[29]
 Sehore District, Madhya Pradesh. Minor
rock edict # 1 only[25][30]
22.729949°N 77.519910°E (https://geohac
k.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=
Minor_Rock_Edicts&params=22.729949_N_
77.519910_E_)

In Saru Maru/Panguraria t here is

also a commemorat ive inscript ion
referring t o t he visit of Ashoka as a
young man, while he was st ill viceroy
of Madhya Pradesh:[31][32]

Piyadasi nama
rajakumala va
samvasamane imam Saru Maru
Saru Maru/
Panguraria desam papunitha Rock
Edict
vihara(ya)tay(e)
No.1.[30] Commemorative
inscription.[30]
The king, who (now
after consecration) is
called "Piyadasi", (once)
came to this place for a
pleasure tour while still
a (ruling) prince, living
together with his
unwedded consort.

— Commemorative
Inscription of the visit
of Ashoka, Saru Maru.
Translated by
Falk.[32][30]

Bellary District, Karnataka.

Minor rock edict n°1 and n°2[25]
15.52000°N 76.83361°E (https://geohack.to
Udegolam
olforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Min U degolam

or_Rock_Edicts&params=15.52_N_76.8336
1_E_)
 Bellary District, Karnataka.
Minor rock edicts #1 and #2[25]
15.54717°N 76.83270°E (https://geohack.to
Nittur
olforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Min Nittur

or_Rock_Edicts&params=15.54717_N_76.8
327_E_)

Maski, Raichur district, Karnataka.

Minor rock edict #1 only[25]
"[A proclamation] of Devanampriya Asoka."
"Two and a half year [and somewhat more]
(have passed) since I am a Buddha-Sakya..."
Full inscription (https://archive.org/strea
Maski m/InscriptionsOfAsoka.NewEditionByE.Hul
Maski
tzsch/HultzschCorpusAsokaSearchable#
page/n353/mode/2up)
15.95723°N 76.64122°E (https://geohack.to
olforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Min
or_Rock_Edicts&params=15.95723_N_76.6
4122_E_)

Near Brahmagiri, Karnataka (14°48'49" N

76°47'58" E).
Minor rock edicts # 1 and #2[25]
Full inscription (https://archive.org/strea
m/InscriptionsOfAsoka.NewEditionByE.Hul
Siddapur tzsch/HultzschCorpusAsokaSearchable#
Siddapur
page/n357/mode/2up)
14.81361°N 76.79944°E (https://geohack.to
olforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Min
or_Rock_Edicts&params=14.81361_N_76.7
9944_E_)

Chitradurga district, Karnataka.

Minor rock edicts n°1 and n°2[25]
Full inscription (https://archive.org/strea
m/InscriptionsOfAsoka.NewEditionByE.Hul
tzsch/HultzschCorpusAsokaSearchable#
Brahmagiri
page/n353/mode/2up) Brahmagiri
.
14.81361°N 76.80611°E (https://geohack.to
olforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Min
or_Rock_Edicts&params=14.81361_N_76.8
0611_E_)
 Near Brahmagiri, Karnataka.
Minor rock edicts n°1 and n°2[25]
Full inscription (https://archive.org/strea
m/InscriptionsOfAsoka.NewEditionByE.Hul
Jatinga- tzsch/HultzschCorpusAsokaSearchable# Jatinga-
Rameshwar
Rameshwara page/n361/mode/2up) a

14.84972°N 76.79083°E (https://geohack.to

olforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Min .
or_Rock_Edicts&params=14.84972_N_76.7
9083_E_)

Palkigundu and Gavimath (also called "Gavi

Matha Koppal"), Koppal district, Karnataka.
Minor rock edict #1 only[25]
15.34416°N 76.13694°E (https://geohack.to Pakilgundu

olforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Min
Palkigundu
or_Rock_Edicts&params=15.34416_N_76.1
and Gavimath
3694_E_)
15.33729°N 76.16213°E (https://geohack.to
olforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Min Gavimath

or_Rock_Edicts&params=15.33729_N_76.1
6213_E_)

Near Pattikonda, Kurnool district, Andhra

Pradesh.
Minor rock edict #1 only[25]
Rajula
15.43500°N 77.47166°E (https://geohack.to Rajula
Mandagiri Mandagiri
olforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Min
or_Rock_Edicts&params=15.435_N_77.471
66_E_)

Gooty, near Guntakal, Anantapur, Andhra

Pradesh.
Minor rock edicts n°1 and n°2.[25] The
Major Rock Edicts are also present
Yerragudi here.[33]
Yerragudi
15.20995°N 77.57688°E (https://geohack.to
olforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Min
or_Rock_Edicts&params=15.20995_N_77.5
7688_E_)

Sasaram / Rohtas District, Bihar. The edict is located

Sahasram near the top of the terminal spur of the Sasaram

Kimur Range near Sasaram.[34]

Minor rock edict #1 only[25]
"...And where there are stone pillars here in
my dominion, there also cause it to be
 engraved." Full inscription (https://archive.o
rg/stream/InscriptionsOfAsoka.NewEditio
nByE.Hultzsch/HultzschCorpusAsokaSear
chable#page/n345/mode/2up)
24.94138°N 84.03833°E (https://geohack.to
olforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Min
or_Rock_Edicts&params=24.94138_N_84.0
3833_E_)

The name Jambudīpasi for "India"

(Brahmi script) in the Sahasram Minor
Rock Edict of Ashoka, circa 250
BCE.[35][36]

On Kaimur Hills near Jabalpur, Madhya

Pradesh; ASI page (http://www.asibhopal.
nic.in/monument/katni_padaria_rockedict Image (htt
ofashokarupnath.html) p://www.asi
"Two and a half years [and somewhat more] bhopal.nic.i
(have passed) since I am openly a Sakya..." n/gallery/g
Rupnath
Full inscription (https://archive.org/strea allery_files/
Rupnath
m/InscriptionsOfAsoka.NewEditionByE.Hul katni/padar
tzsch/HultzschCorpusAsokaSearchable# ia/rock_edi
page/n341/mode/2up) ct_of_rshok
23.64083°N 80.03194°E (https://geohack.to a_rupnath/
olforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Min 1.jpg)
or_Rock_Edicts&params=23.64083_N_80.0
3194_E_)

Found on a very large rock, on the hill north

of Bairat, Rajasthan.
Minor rock edict #1 only[25]
Full inscription (https://archive.org/strea
Bairat
m/InscriptionsOfAsoka.NewEditionByE.Hul
Bairat tzsch/HultzschCorpusAsokaSearchable#
page/n347/mode/2up)
27.45188°N 76.18499°E (https://geohack.to
olforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Min
or_Rock_Edicts&params=27.45188_N_76.1
8499_E_)
 An inscription found on the hill about one
mile southwest of Bairat, Rajasthan, on a
block of granite on the platform between
the Bairat Temple and the large cannon-
shaped rock in front of it.[37][38]
The edict was discovered by Captain Burt
in 1840,[38] and transferred to the Museum
Modern
of the Asiatic Society of Bengal at
im age in
Calcutta, hence the name "Calcutta-
the
Bairat", also called the Bhabra or Bhabru
Asiatic
Edict.[39] Contains Minor rock edict #3
S oc iety (h
only, in which Ashoka gives a list of
Bairat ttps://i0.w
Buddhist scriptures to study.[25]
p.c om /ww
Calcutta/Bairat "...It is known to you Sirs, how great is my
w.kolkata
faith and reverence in the Buddha, the
onwheels.
Dharma and the Sangha..." Full inscription (h
c om /wp-c
ttps://archive.org/stream/InscriptionsOfA
ontent/up
soka.NewEditionByE.Hultzsch/HultzschCo
loads/201
rpusAsokaSearchable#page/n349/mode/
7/12/DS C
2up)
_0042.jp
In this inscription, Ashoka is referred to as
g)
"Piyadasi Raja Magadhe" ("Piyadasi, king of
Magadha").[40]
27.417124°N 76.162569°E (https://geohac
k.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=
Minor_Rock_Edicts&params=27.417124_N_
76.162569_E_)

Image (http
s://plus.go
ogle.com/p
hotos/1049
Mirzapur District, Uttar Pradesh. 0453807895
[25][41]
Minor rock edict #1 only 9495310/al
Ahraura
25.02000°N 83.02000°E (https://geohack.to bum/62205
Ahraura
olforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Min 9105579271
or_Rock_Edicts&params=25.02_N_83.02_E 7841/62205
_) 9105800430
3010?authk
ey=CNG0vJ
GlzNLarw
E)

Ratampurwa Kaimur District, Bihar. Identical to the Images (htt

[42]
Sasaram rock edict. ps://www.a
 25.018067°N 83.341657°E (https://geohac cademia.ed
Ratampurw
k.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename= a u/536308
Minor_Rock_Edicts&params=25.018067_N_ 5)
83.341657_E_)

Miscellaneous inscriptions often catalogued in the Minor

Rock Edicts

Some Ashoka inscript ions in Greek or Aramaic, or t he inscript ions of t he Barabar Caves, are difficult t o
cat egorize, and are somet imes included in t he "Minor Rock Edict s".

This is somet imes also t he case wit h t he Kandahar Bilingual Rock Inscript ion (t he designat ion of
"Minor Rock Edict No.4" was proposed), alt hough it s nat ure is quit e different from ot her edict s and it
is t he oldest of Ashoka's inscript ions (10t h year of his reign).[43]

The inscript ions in Aramaic, especially t he Aramaic Inscript ion of Laghman and t he Aramaic
Inscript ion of Taxila are also oft en cat alogued among t he minor rock edict s, alt hough t heir charact er
of edict is not very clear, and if t he first was inscribed on rock, t he second was inscribed on an
oct agonal marble pillar.

The inscript ions of t he Barabar Caves are purely dedicat ory, wit hout moral cont ent .
Inscript ions oft en included in t he "Minor Rock Edict s"

Rubbing/
Name Locat ion Map Overview Rock
Close-up

Chil-Zena Hill, Kandahar, Afghanistan

Original bilingual Greek-Aramaic edition, sort of a
Kandahar summary or introduction of the Edicts of Ashoka.
Kandahar
Bilingual Sometimes categorized as "Minor Rock Edict No. 4",
Rock due to its more recent discovery, although it is the
Inscription oldest of all Ashoka inscriptions (year 10 of his reign).
Two Major Rock Edicts, the Kandahar Greek Edict of
Ashoka, were also discovered in Kandahar.

Laghman
Aramaic Valley of Laghman, Afghanistan
Inscription Short moral injunction accompanied by information for
of Laghman the journey to Palmyra.

Greek city of Sirkap, Taxila, Pakistan. Taxila

Aramaic
Not perfectly identified inscription, engraved on a
Inscription
marble architectural block, mentioning "Our Lord
of Taxila
Priyadasi" (Ashoka) twice .

Inscriptions
of Ashoka
Barabar Caves, Bihar Barabar
(caves of
Barabar)

Further reading

Le Huu Phuoc, Buddhist Architecture. Grafikol 2009. ISBN 978-0-9844043-0-8.

Valeri P. Yailenko Les maximes delphiques d'Aï Khanoum et la formation de la doctrine du dharma
d'Asoka (ht t ps://www.persee.fr/doc/dha_ 0755-7256_ 1990_ num_ 16_ 1_ 1467) . Dialogues
d'hist oire ancienne vol.16 n°1, 1990, pp. 239–256.

References

1. Phuoc 2009, p.30

2. India: An Archaeological Hist ory: Palaeolit hic Beginnings t o Early ... by Dilip K. Chakrabart y p. 395
(ht t ps://books.google.com/books?id=wPQt DwAAQBAJ&pg=PT395)

3. Inscript ions Of Asoka, E.Hult zsch, 1925 (ht t ps://archive.org/st ream/Inscript ionsOfAsoka.NewE
dit ionByE.Hult zsch/Hult zschCorpusAsoka)
 4. Valeri P. Yailenko Les maximes delphiques d'Aï Khanoum et la formation de la doctrine du
dharma d'Asoka (ht t ps://www.persee.fr/doc/dha_ 0755-7256_ 1990_ num_ 16_ 1_ 1467)
Dialogues d'hist oire ancienne vol.16 n°1, 1990, p.243

5. Minor Rock Edict 1

6. Inscript ions of Asoka by DC Sircar p.32-22 (ht t ps://books.google.com/books?id=1_ omDwAAQB

AJ&pg=PT32)

7. John Irwin& "The True Chronology of Aśokan Pillars" (ht t ps://www.scribd.com/document /1367
03111/Chronology-of-Asokan-Pillars) , in:Artibus Asiae, Vol. 44, No. 4 (1983), p. 247-265

8. Valeri P. Yailenko Les maximes delphiques d'Aï Khanoum et la formation de la doctrine du

dharma d'Asoka (ht t ps://www.persee.fr/doc/dha_ 0755-7256_ 1990_ num_ 16_ 1_ 1467)
Dialogues d'hist oire ancienne vol.16 n°1, 1990, pp.239-256

9. Ashoka: The Search for India's Lost Emperor by Charles Allen p. 83 (ht t ps://books.google.com/b
ooks?id=K4vHjbUt f_ 4C&pg=PT83)

10. A t ranslat ion of t he Edict s of Ashoka p.259 (ht t p://www.learn.columbia.edu/indianart /pdf/asoka

_ t hapar.pdf) Archived (ht t ps://web.archive.org/web/20170517144931/ht t p://www.learn.colu
mbia.edu/indianart /pdf/asoka_ t hapar.pdf) 2017-05-17 at t he Wayback Machine

11. "At Bairat , a t hird Minor Rock Edict of Asoka was also found besides t he version of Minor Rock
Edict I ... "in DC Sircar's Inscript ions of Asoka p.32 (ht t ps://books.google.com/books?id=1_ omD
wAAQBAJ&pg=PT32) "

12. The Cambridge Shorter History of India (ht t ps://books.google.com/books?id=9_ 48AAAAIAAJ&p

g=PA42) . CUP Archive. p. 42.

13. Gupt a, Subhadra Sen (2009). Ashoka (ht t ps://books.google.com/books?id=L5ru08et _ ZAC&pg=

PT13) . Penguin UK. p. 13. ISBN 9788184758078.

14. Inscriptions of Asoka. New Edition by E. Hultzsch (ht t ps://archive.org/st ream/Inscript ionsOfAso
ka.NewEdit ionByE.Hult zsch/Hult zschCorpusAsokaSearchable#page/n353/mode/2up) (in
Sanskrit ). 1925. pp. 174–175.

15. Malalasekera, Gunapala Piyasena (1990). Encyclopaedia of Buddhism (ht t ps://books.google.co

m/books?id=OdwKAAAAYAAJ) . Government of Ceylon. p. 16.

16. John Irwin, "The t rue chronology of Ashokan pillars", p.147 (ht t ps://www.scribd.com/document /
136703111/Chronology-of-Asokan-Pillars)

17. A Sourcebook of Indian Civilizat ion published by Niharranjan Ray, Brajadulal Chat t opadhyaya
p.592 (ht t ps://books.google.com/books?id=Zcyho16xzWEC&pg=PA592)
18. The t erm Upasaka (Buddhist layman) is used in most inscript ions.Inscriptions of Asoka. New
Edition by E. Hultzsch (ht t ps://archive.org/st ream/Inscript ionsOfAsoka.NewEdit ionByE.Hult zsc
h/Hult zschCorpusAsokaSearchable#page/n343/mode/2up) (in Sanskrit ). 1925. p. 167 Not e
18.

19. Maski inscript ion Inscriptions of Asoka. New Edition by E. Hultzsch (ht t ps://archive.org/st ream/I
nscript ionsOfAsoka.NewEdit ionByE.Hult zsch/Hult zschCorpusAsokaSearchable#page/n353/mo
de/2up) (in Sanskrit ). 1925. p. 174.

20. Rupnat h inscript ion Inscriptions of Asoka. New Edition by E. Hultzsch (ht t ps://archive.org/st rea
m/Inscript ionsOfAsoka.NewEdit ionByE.Hult zsch/Hult zschCorpusAsokaSearchable#page/n34
3/mode/2up) (in Sanskrit ). 1925. p. 167.

21. The t erm Upāsaka (Buddhist layman) is used in most inscript ions.Inscriptions of Asoka. New
Edition by E. Hultzsch (ht t ps://archive.org/st ream/Inscript ionsOfAsoka.NewEdit ionByE.Hult zsc
h/Hult zschCorpusAsokaSearchable#page/n343/mode/2up) (in Sanskrit ). 1925. p. 167 Not e
18.

22. "Hist ory of Museum Asiat ic Societ y" (ht t p://www.asiat icsociet ykolkat a.org/museum/hist ory) .
www.asiaticsocietykolkata.org.

23. Beckwit h, Christ opher I. (2017). Greek Buddha: Pyrrho's Encounter with Early Buddhism in
Central Asia (ht t ps://books.google.com/books?id=53GYDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA245) . Princet on
Universit y Press. p. 245. ISBN 978-0-691-17632-1.

24. Singh, Upinder (2017). Political Violence in Ancient India (ht t ps://books.google.com/books?id=t
6A4DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA501) . Harvard Universit y Press. p. 501. ISBN 9780674975279.

25. India: An Archaeological Hist ory: Palaeolit hic Beginnings t o Early Hist oric Foundat ions ... by Dilip
K. Chakrabart y p.395 (ht t ps://books.google.com/books?id=wPQt DwAAQBAJ&pg=PT395)

26. Hirakawa, Akira (1993). A History of Indian Buddhism: From Śākyamuni to Early Mahāyāna (ht t p
s://books.google.com/books?id=XjjwjC7rcOYC&pg=PA96) . Mot ilal Banarsidass. p. 96.
ISBN 9788120809550.

27. Sircar, D. C. (1979). Asokan studies (ht t ps://archive.org/st ream/in.gov.ignca.67068/67068#pag

e/n97/mode/2up) . pp. 86–96.

28. Beckwit h, Christ opher I. (2017). Greek Buddha: Pyrrho's Encounter with Early Buddhism in
Central Asia (ht t ps://books.google.com/books?id=53GYDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA239) . Princet on
Universit y Press. pp. 239–240, not e 47. ISBN 978-0-691-17632-1.

29. Sircar, D. C. (1979). Asokan studies (ht t ps://archive.org/st ream/in.gov.ignca.67068/67068#pag

e/n103/mode/2up) .
30. Sircar, D. C. (1979). Asokan studies (ht t ps://archive.org/st ream/in.gov.ignca.67068/67068#pag
e/n177/mode/2up) . p. Plat e XVII.

31. Gupt a, The Origins of Indian Art , p.196

32. Allen, Charles (2012). Ashoka: The Search for India's Lost Emperor (ht t ps://books.google.com/bo
oks?id=K4vHjbUt f_ 4C&pg=PT154) . Lit t le, Brown Book Group. pp. 154–155.
ISBN 9781408703885.

33. The Geopolit ical Orbit s of Ancient India: The Geographical Frames of t he ... by Dilip K
Chakrabart y p.32 (ht t ps://books.google.com/books?id=EIAyDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT32)

34. BLO (ht t p://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/onlineex/apac/phot ocoll/v/019pho000001003u00476000.

ht ml)

35. Inscriptions of Asoka. New Edition by E. Hultzsch (ht t ps://archive.org/st ream/Inscript ionsOfAso
ka.NewEdit ionByE.Hult zsch/Hult zschCorpusAsokaSearchable#page/n345) (in Sanskrit ). 1925.
pp. 169–171.

36. Lahiri, Nayanjot (2015). Ashoka in Ancient India (ht t ps://books.google.com/books?id=bJ_ XCgAA
QBAJ&pg=PA37) . Harvard Universit y Press. p. 37. ISBN 9780674057777.

37. Archaeological Survey Of India Four Reports Made During The Years 1862 - 63 - 64 - 65 Volume Ii
(ht t ps://archive.org/det ails/in.ernet .dli.2015.83271) . 1871. pp. 242 (ht t ps://archive.org/det ail
s/in.ernet .dli.2015.83271/page/n293) –248.

38. Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal (ht t ps://archive.org/st ream/journalofasiat ic9102asia#pa
ge/616) . Calcut t a : Print ed at t he Bapt ist Mission Press [et c.] 1840. p. 616.

39. “Lit t le Vehicle t o Great Vehicle”: Ancient Rajast han int o Buddhist Cult ure, Prof. Vibha
Upadhyaya, Depart ment of Hist ory & Indian Cult ure, Universit y of Rajast han, Jaipur, India p.97 (ht
t p://www.ojs.mcu.ac.t h/index.php/jiabu/art icle/viewFile/758/637)

40. Sast ri, Kallidaikurichi Aiyah Nilakant a (1988). Age of the Nandas and Mauryas (ht t ps://books.goo
gle.com/books?id=YoAwor58ut YC&pg=PA208) . Mot ilal Banarsidass. p. 208.
ISBN 9788120804661.

41. Ashoka Inscript ions, Sircar p.72 (ht t ps://archive.org/st ream/in.gov.ignca.67068/67068#page/n8

3/mode/2up/search/ahaura)

42. Falk, Harry. The Minor Rock Edict of Asoka at Ratanpurwa (ht t ps://www.academia.edu/536308
5) .

43. Inscript ions of Asoka by DC Sircar p.33 (ht t ps://books.google.com/books?id=1_ omDwAAQBAJ

&pg=PT33)
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