History · From State to Empire
UGC NET December 2013 History
Passage
Asoka (c. 273-236 BC), the grandson of Chandragupta, styled the beloved of the gods and of lovable appearance, succeeded to the throne of Pataliputra by winning a fratricidal war. Nine years after his accession he rounded off the empire he had inherited from his grandfather by annexing Kalinga. The Kalinga war brought to the emperor a violent reaction, no doubt under the influence of the Buddha's teachings. He regretted the vast numbers of men killed or taken prisoner, and bemoaned the lot of pious men and women to whom befell personal violence, death or banishment from loved ones, and he eschewed war for ever as an instrument of governance. He embarked on a career of Dharma Vijaya, conquest through Dharma. He set up a network of missions to preach Dharma, declared that all men were his children, and constituted himself the guardian of the moral and material welfare of the world.
Asoka is throughout referred to as 'Devanampiya' and 'Piyadasi' in his edicts except a few. Which are such exceptions?
- 1. Maski
- 2. Gurjara
- 3. Nittur
- 4. Udegolam
A1 only
B1 and 2
C1, 3 and 4
D1, 2, 3 and 4 ✓ Correct
Correct answer: (D) 1, 2, 3 and 4 — All four are exceptions, so the answer is 1, 2, 3 and 4.
Explanation
★All four are exceptions, so the answer is 1, 2, 3 and 4.
★In most edicts Asoka is named only by his titles Devanampiya and Piyadasi.
★But a few edicts give his personal name Asoka as well.
★These exceptions are the edicts at Maski, Gurjara, Nittur and Udegolam.
★The Maski edict was the first to identify Devanampiya Piyadasi with Asoka.
★These finds settled the identity of the king behind the edicts.
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