1840.] from Bactrian and Indo- Scythian coins. 7^1 



the Buddhists, because he afforded a general patronage to their 

 religion, a fact now undoubtedly confirmed, as the inscriptions 

 are decyphered, by which Azoka throughout his whole empire 

 invited the adoption of the doctrines of Buddha.* 



We may therefore rely upon the statement in the Buddhist 

 annals, that Dharmazoka enjoyed a long, peaceful reign during 

 the years 260—219 b. c. 



To corroborate the fact, that the dominion of Azoka, like 

 that of his predecessors, extended to the Caucasus, it may be 

 mentioned, besides the absence of reports stating the contrary, 

 that the Chinese pilgrims also met with in the valley of the Panjhir 

 monuments erected by Azoka for the glory of his religion. f 



As another confirmation may be adduced the circumstance, 

 that Antiochus in the year 205 renewed the confederacy with 

 the king of the Indians, which could be only the case with a 

 king of the Maurja-dynasty of Palibothra.J The king then 

 mentioned, Sophagasenos, appears to be a son of Azoka. § 



Contrary to this opinion, the successor of Azoka is named 

 Sujazas [^^ of good renown'^) in the Brahmanic genealogies; but 

 we can hardly be deterred by this from comparing him with 

 Sophagasenos (Subhagasena, '^ of the victorious army'^W) as 

 these kings even publicly substituted their titles of honour for 



* As. T. VI. p. 472. 791. 



t Foe K. K. p. 395. 



X Also this name was known to the Greeks ; see the interpretation of 

 the word M-dypiuq in my Pr^crit grammar, p. 247. 



§ Zeitschr. I. 110. 



11 M. de Schlegel, Ind. Bibliothek I. p. 258. The Chinese traveller 

 Fahian also proves, that the son of Azoka reigned in Gandhara, Foe 

 K. p. 67. If Remusat has correctly translated the Chinese word " Fai," 

 the Buddhists have called him " Dharmavardhana." The son of Azdka, 

 who also reigned in Kazmira, is called laloka in the annals of the country, 

 (Raj. Tarang. I. 107) a reading, which is hardly correct. It is evident from 

 the succeeding verse, in which is certainly a play on the word Jazas, fame, 

 that in the former text, this word also occurred in his name. He 

 is said to have cleared the country from invading barbarians. At the 

 same place, p. 115. His successor is a king of another family. From 

 these traditions I shall only retain, that inroads of barbarians are menti- 

 oned immediately after Azoka, and that with his son the empire of 

 tlie kings of Palibothra in Kazmira found its termination. 



