Who among the following rulers advised his subjects through this inscription?
“Whosoever praises his religious sect or blames other sects out of excessive devotion to his own sect, with the view of glorifying his own sect, he rather injures his own sect very severely.”
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2020 Prelims]
(a) Ashoka
(b) Samundragupta
(c) Harshavardhana
(d) Krishanadeva Raya
Answer: (a)
Explanation:
- Ashoka is recognized for promoting the principles of the Buddhist sect and is credited with their propagation.
- Ashoka’s dhamma, or way of life, did not involve worshiping gods or performing sacrifices. He viewed his duty towards his subjects as that of a father towards his son.
- The edicts and inscriptions of Ashoka contained instructions related to religious matters, particularly Buddhism, and outlined rules for the conduct of Bhikshuks (Buddhist monks).
- Ashoka’s inscriptions can be categorized into three types: Pillar Edicts, Major Rock Edicts, and Minor Rock Edicts.
- James Prinsep was the first person to decipher Ashoka’s edicts, making a significant contribution in understanding their content.
- An excerpt from the 12th Major Rock Edict reads as follows: “Whosoever praises his religious sector blames other sects out of excessive devotion to his own sect, with the view of glorifying his own sect, he rather injures his own sect very severely”.
Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.
