SIR ANDREW WINGATE, K.C.I.E., ON INDIA. 



55 



no part of acceptable worship. The administration was well 

 organized, though the bulk of the expenditure was upon the 

 army and the palace. 



Much of the information of the Maurya period is derived from 

 Megasthenes, the ambassador from Seleukos Nikator at the 

 Court of Chandragupta and his successors. With Asoka began 

 numerous inscrij)tions on rock and pillar composed by himself. 

 Asoka's empire by this time included the greater part of India, 

 from the Hindu Kush to near Mysore. So far the precept 

 enunciated by Chanakya for the guidance of a king, " In the 

 happiness of his subjects lies his happiness," had not been followed. 

 Now came a sudden change. For some three centuries, Buddhism 

 had been making its way, and the Maurya kings came under its 

 influence. In Asoka it became a living force. Remorse entered 

 his mind for having attacked the Kalingas, a small State on the 

 Bay of Bengal, " because the conquest of a country previously 

 unconquered involves the slaughter, death and carrying away 

 captive of the people " (261 B.C.). Asoka felt similar sympathy 

 for the despised Hill Tribes. He desired that all " animate 

 beings should have security, self-control, peace of mind and 

 joyousness." His officers were enjoined to avoid harshness 

 towards any and to show sympathy with all. 



Asoka propagated his beliefs with energy. He had a vision of 

 internationalism. He sent his messengers to the Far West, 

 including Syria and Egypt. His brother and sister brought 

 about the conversion of Ceylon. Buddhism spread to Burmah, 

 Siam, Japan, Tibet, and during the first century after Christ 

 became an active force in China. Mohammed compelled men 

 to accept his creed by the sword. Asoka conquered by meekness. 

 The strength of Mohammedanism lay in the truth that there is 

 one God, its weakness is that it requires no change of heart and 

 has no place for love. The power of Buddhism is that it 

 approached the Kingdom of God. It insisted on speaking the 

 truth, on reverence to parents and teachers, sympathetic treat 

 ment of inferiors, respect for the religious opinions of others, 

 regard for animal life. Such were the stone-cut edicts of Asoka. 

 We do not find the like again till we get to Akbar. 



The Maurya Empire scarcely lasted fifty years after the death 

 of Asoka, and a reaction against Buddhism followed. For 

 some centuries Hindustan lapsed into conflicts between petty 

 kings till once more a strong ruler arose in a second Chandragupta 

 and his son, Samudragupta, who between a.d. 320 and 375 



