Marches. For this is the rule: "protection by the Law of Piety, regulation by that Law, felicity by that Law, guarding by that Law."'
Comment
In the Pillar Scripture recorded at a late date in his reign Asoka continues, develops, and reviews the instructions which he had first recorded in his thirteenth regnal year. His principles had not changed, and many things said before are repeated. This first Pillar Edict may be regarded as a preamble or introduction to the series. Senart treats it as being specially addressed to the imperial officials, but to me it seems intended for more general application by all concerned, official or non-official. The text and translation present no difficulties, except that there is room for some difference of opinion concerning the shade of meaning of some of the terms. Parîkahâ (palikkâ) is rendered 'self-examination,' the paṭivekke of P. E. III. Bühler translates 'circumspection,' and Senart, in conformity with his notion that officials only are addressed, translates 'surveillance rigoureuse.'
The Word pulisâ, literally 'men,' translated 'agents,' here occurs for the first time. It may be intended to include all the superior officials, or, more probably, it may refer to special supervising officers, like the missi dominci of Charlemagne. The term recurs in P. E. IV and VII. The latter passage, if Bhandarkar's probable emendation be accepted, would seem to distinguish the pulisâ from the 256 vyâthas of Minor R. E. I.
The 'Wardens of the Marches,' aṁtta-mahwmâtâ, or 'High Officers of the Frontiers,' also have not been heard of before by name, although Asoka had laid down in the Kalinga Borderers' Edict the principles which should guide frontier officers.
Compare Charlemagne's Markgrafen (Bryce, The Holy Roman Empire, p. 68). 'Fickle people,' chapalaṁ, with the secondary sense of 'ill—behaved' or 'sinners.' 'Protection,' pâlanâ; 'guarding,' gotî. All those terms admit of slight variations in translation.
