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166
ASOKA
practice of the Law to increase until the aeon of universal destruction (other texts omit "of universal destruction"). Standing firm in the Law of Piety and in morality they will inculcate the Law. For this is the best of deeds—even the inculcation of the Law. Practice of the Law is not for the immoral man. Both increase and non-diminution in this matter are excellent.
For this purpose has this [document] been caused to be written that they may strive for increase and not give countenance to diminution.
'When he had been consecrated twelve years His Sacred and Gracious Majesty the King had this written.'
Comment'
Ârambho means specially sacrificial slaughter (Thomas) Dhaṁmzacharaṇa is 'practice' of the Law. The phrase 'drum of the Law' is familiar in Buddhist literature. Buddha said: 'I am going to Varâṇasî to sonnd the drum of the Law . . . to turn the wheel of the Law ’ (Rockhill, Udânvarga, xxi, 6, p. 91 ; Trübner, 1892). 'Has become', as the rendering of aho (=abhavat), is preferable to taking that word either as an interjection, 'oh'. or 'lo', or as a conjunction, 'or'. Vimâna, a representation by a processional car or otherwise of the gods' abodes. 'Elephant' may refer either to the representation of Buddha as the white elephant, or to images of the four celestial elephants, the vehicles of the Lokapâlas. Dh. has the plural form hathîni. Agikhandâini (G.) apparently means 'bonfires' or 'fireworks', and possibly a special kind of bonfire, such as the burning palmyra trunk set up at a popular festival to Indra in S. lndia (Ind. Ant., 1915, p. 203). Burnouf rendered 'feux de joie' (Introd., 2nd ed., 1876, p. 568). The corresponding word jotikaṁdhana in Sh. means 'illuminations'. Asoka sought to engage the interest of his people in edifying spectacles concerning things divine rather than in martial display. The spectacles referred to should be, regarded as terrestrial exhibitions, not as celestial phenomena. The general meaning is plain. Fa-hien's de-
