"Früheste Zeugnisse lesbarer indischer Texte: Steininschriften von Ashoka aus der Maurya-Dynastie (3. Jahrhundert vor Chr.)"

__________________________

"Asoka (c. 300-232 BCE) was born into the Mauryan royal family. After his father’s death, he became in 270 BCE the ruler of an empire extending from Afghanistan to Bengal, and covering the Ganges plain and the Deccan plateau. He pushed out the boundaries of his empire during the next decade, conquering Kalinga in 262 BCE. In this way he unified nearly all of India under his rule. He converted to Buddhism in 260 BCE and thenceforth propagated ideals of tolerance, equality, and public service.

After his conversion, Asoka promulgated the main ethical teachings of the Buddha, expressed in what Asoka referred to as the Dharma. He did this by means of traveling ministers (Dharma-Mhamatras) and by having edicts setting forth his philosophy carved into stone pillars and cliff faces."

_______________________________

"Wir wollen uns nun das System des auf die Zehn Königlichen Regeln oder Tugenden gegründeten Königtumsgenauer ansehen. Es ist ebenfalls eine Form des diktatorischen Sozialismus. Das beste Beispiel dafür ist KönigAsoka. Viele Bücher wurden über König Asoka veröffentlicht, speziell über die Asoka-Inschriften, welche in seinem ganzen Königreich auf Felssäulen gefunden wurden."

"Remorse For Aggression
1 Kalinga was conquered by King Asoka after he had been crowned for eight years. One hundred and fifty thousand persons were thence carried away captive, one hundred thousand were there slain, and many times that number perished.

Directly after the annexation of Kalinga, began King Asoka’s zealous protection of the Dharma [the teachings of Buddha], his love of that law, and his giving instruction in that law. Thus arose King Asoka’s remorse for having conquered Kalinga, because the conquest of a country previously unconquered involves the slaughter, death and carrying away of people as captives. This is a matter of profound sorrow and regret to his majesty.

Rock Edict XIII



2 There is, however, further reason for King Asoka feeling still more regret, inasmuch as in such a country dwell priests, men of various denominations, and householders, upon whom is laid the duty of listening attentively to superiors, to father and mother, and to teachers, and of proper treatment of friends, acquaintances, comrades, relatives, slaves, and servants, with enduring concern. To such people in a country at war befalls violence, or slaughter, or separation from their loved ones. Or misfortune befalls the friends, acquaintances, comrades and relatives of those who are themselves well protected while their affection is undiminished. Thus for them also this is a mode of violence. And the share of this that falls on all men is matter of regret to King Asoka. . .

Rock Edict XIII"


--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2007-02-01 23:00:37 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Anmerkung: Alle der genannten Antworten sind korrekt, aber die Inschriften gibt es auch auf Säulen, die ich nicht gerade als Felsen bezeichnen würde. Eine Mischform wäre wahrscheinlich angebracht.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 hrs (2007-02-02 01:06:00 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Ganz liebe Grüße zurück! Ich bin aber am anderen Ende des Kontinents: Portland, Oregon