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.
In which of his following inscriptions did Asoka declare that all people were his children?
AMinor Rock Edict I ✓ Correct
BRock Edict XII
CSeparate Kalinga Edict
DRummindei Pillar Edict
Correct answer: (A) Minor Rock Edict I — Following the book key, the answer is given as Minor Rock Edict I.
Explanation
★Following the book key, the answer is given as Minor Rock Edict I.
★In this edict Asoka speaks of all his subjects as his own children.
★He pledged to care for their welfare in this world and the next.
★It is worth noting that the very phrase 'all men are my children' is also famous in the Separate Kalinga Edicts.
★The Rummindei Pillar Edict, by contrast, records his visit to Lumbini.
★There he cut the tax on the village from one sixth to one eighth.
Want more like this? Create a free account to practise a full test, track your progress, and get spaced-repetition review.
Shared by Mcqkart · via Mcqkart.in
