792 Further elucidation of lat or Silasthambha inscriptions. [Sept. 



reception of these lot inscriptions as genuine monuments of a fixed 

 and classical period, the most ancient yet achieved in such an unequivo- 

 cal form. 



The passage of the MaMwanso alluded to above as proving the 

 erection of numerous Sthupds and Vihdras by him is by no means free 

 from exaggeration ; but the general facts are certainly borne out by 

 the extensive diffusion of these curious edicts : I give the whole from 

 the indicated page in Mr. Turnour's " Epitome." 



The transaction is referred to the fourth year of Asoko's reign, nor 

 can I find any thing noted of so late a date as the 27th year, which 

 is sufficient to exclude any actual mention of the erection of the 

 Silasthambhas : — 



Suiw&na chaturdsiii dhammakhandani ; sobruwi " pujemi tehan pachchSkan 

 vihdrendti" bhupati. 



Datwd tada channavuti dhanakutin mahipati purisu chaturasiti sahassisu 

 mahitaU. 



Tattha tatthha rdjuhi vikdre" drabhdpayi : sayan Asokdrfanantu kdrdpelun 

 samdrabhi. 



Ratanattaya nigrodhagildndnanti sbsant pachchikan sata saJiassan so addpesi, 

 dine dine. 



DhanSna buddhadinndna tJi&papnja anekadhd anikSsu vihdresu anSke akarun 

 sadd. 



Dhanena dhammadinnena pachchaye chaturo vare" dhammadhardnan bhikkhunan 

 vpanesun sadd nard. 



" Having learned that there were eighty-four thousand discourses on the tenets 

 of that doctrine (of Buddha), 'I will dedicate' exclaimed the monarch 'a 

 vihdro to each.' Then bestowing six thousand kotis of treasure on eighty-four 

 thousand towns in Jambudipo, at those places he caused the construction of tem- 

 ples to be commenced by the (local) rajas ; he himself undertook the erection 

 of the Asokarama (at Pupphapura*). He bestowed daily, from his regard for the 

 religion, a lac separately to the 'ratanattyd' to Nigrodho, and to infirm 

 priests. 



From the offerings made on account of Buddho in various ways, in various 

 cities, various festivals were constantly celebrated in honor of ' thupas.' 



From the offerings made on account of the religion the populace constantly 

 bestowed the four prescribed offerings on the priests, the repositories of true 

 religion." 



It must be remembered that Asoka during the reign of his father 

 at Pdtaliputra, acted as uparaja or sub-king at Ujjain. His supremacy 

 probably therefore extended farther than that of any other Indian 

 monarch. The minute particulars we now possess of his history 

 and of that of his predecessors, through Mr. Turnour's Pdli authori- 



* This town is called Edpapura and Pdwdpuri by Jain authorities, (see Colb- 

 brooke, As. Res. IX.) But the more natural Sanskrit equivalent is Pushpapuri, 

 41 city of flowers." 



