Indian Antiquary Vol 12

SR No.: 032504
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jas Burgess
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 390
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 18 MB

Page 83

MARCH, 1883.]
PIYADASI INSCRIPTIONS.
THE COLUMN INSCRIPTIONS OF PIYADASI.
BY M. ÉMILE SENART. Abstract.
history of these monuments ; It will be suffi. Till the present we know of five columns cient to remind the reader that the different or láts inscribed with edicts of Piyadasi. The texts are, in all the parts in common, essentially most important and oldest known is the Dehli identical. I therefore take for a basis the longest column, commonly known as “the lát of Firuz version, the only complete one, that of the Shah” (D), because it was that prince who pillar of Firuz Shah. The text of it I transcribe caused it to be brought to Dehli from its original and give in the notes all the different readings position. It is the one which embraces the
one which embraces the of the other versions, where they exist. most complete series. I think it most convenient The orthographical or palæographical pecufor the present to arrange them in the way liarities which this series presents are not such General Cunningham has done. This pillar, as to offer peculiar difficulties to the translation. then, contains seven edicts, inscribed in four
First Edict. groupe, one on each of its sides, and an eighth Prinsep, Journ. Asiat. Soc. of Beng. vol. VI, below, occupies several lines round the shaft. 1837, p. 581 (conf. p. 965); Burnouf, Lotus de
There is another pillar at Dehli which was la bonne Loi, p. 654 ff. also transported thither by Firuz (D'); this (1) Devânampiye piyadasi lâjahevaṁ Aba'[.] is the one that General Cunningham calls the sadvisati pillar of Mirat, from the name of its original () vasaabhisitenameiyam dhammalipi likhaposition. It contains only a short fragment of pit° C.) the 1st edict, edicts II and III entire ; edicts () hidatapâlate dusampatipadaye amnata agåIV and V are only in part preserved, and
ya' dhammakamataya edicts VI and VII are wanting on it.
(1) agâya palikhâyâ agâya susûsåyå" agena" The Allahabad column (A) contains edicts I bhayena to IV; the two first are alone intact; there () agena usahena [.] esa chu kho mama anugaremains only a line of the IIIrd; of the others thiya longer or shorter portions. It is characterised O dhammâpekhâ" dhammakâmatâ chậ15 suve by the presence of two additional fragments save vadhitâ vadhisati chevå [] which we do not find elsewhere, and which are (*) pulisi pi cha meo Akasả cha goveya cha unfortunately spoilt. The one, already known majhimâ châ anuvidhiyanti from Prinsep, has been named by General sampatipadayamti chalam chapala Cunningham "the Queen's edict"; the other, samadapayitave hemeva sinta which appeared for the first time in the Corpus, mahâmâtâ" pi [.] esa hi" vidhi ya iyar is addressed to the officers of Kausâmbi. They dhammena" palank" dhammena vidhåne" form a necessary addition in our revision of (1) dhammena sukhiyan†dhârmena gothis class of edicts.
titi" (.)
: The two last columns have been found again
Translation. in positions not far distant from one another; "King Piyadasi, dear to the gods, says thus : both contain the first six tablets. One is that of In the twenty-seventh year of my anointing I Radhiah (R), which General Cunningham prefers caused this edict to be inscribed. Happiness to call that of Lauriya Araraj; the other, the in this world and in the next is difficult to column of Mathiah (M), which receives in the procure, without (on the part of my officers) Corpus the name of Lauriya Navandgarh. extreme zeal for religion, rigorous supervision,
I need not enlarge on the description and extreme obedience, a very lively sense of respon1 Journal Asiatique, Septième sér. tome XIX, pp. 395- W RM.Rahita vadhisati cha va pu", A. vadhisați cha va 460. For the other edicts, see vol. X, p. 273.
11 ARM.°& pi meo. 1 A.odasi lAjá heo • RM.Aha sa.
2 ARM. vidhiyatitiyatnti che so. • ARM.rarAbhio. • A. na ma is.
19 ARM.samsda.. • RM.opita hio.
• A.RdAsampatipAdâye. 30 A.'hemmeva so, RM. hemeva so. • RM. gåya dha • ARM.mataya ao
* Doamgamahama'. MAR. eså hi®, M. es pivo. M. gayaın palikhlya, A.palikhaya a°, R palikhaye ao 23 A.omens p&o.
A. lana dhe 10 A. Agaya
RM.Bûs yn 1 R. ya Age. » A. na madhane dha, M.ovidhane. » A.Ces cha kho think dha, RM.°thiya dha
* A.omenam sokhiya, R.'yana dha, M.°sukhiyana dha. 1. BM. pekha dha. 15 A.kamata cha suo.
" A.dhammana ganitechi, B.getiti.