Thus, aiming at the welfare and happiness of mankind, I devote my attention alike to my relatives, to persons near, and to persons afar off, if haply I may guide some of them to happiness, and to that end I make my arrangements.
In like manner I devote my attention to all communities, because all denominations are reverenced by me with various forms of reverence. Nevertheless, personal adherence to one’s own creed is the chief thing in my opinion.
When I had been consecrated twenty-six years I had this scripture of the Law of Piety written.'
Comment
This short edict, reasserting the doctrine of R. E. IV and XII, offers few difficulties. My former translation stands without substantial change. The elliptic phrase, taṁ apahata, is construed in accordance with Bühler's view. Senart renders 'taking away some part of the teaching.' 'Arrangements;' this clause was accidentally omitted from Büh1er's version. The indefinite term nikâyu is best rendered by 'communities,' equivalent to 'denominations,' and not by 'corporations,' as Bühler, or 'the whole body of my officers,' as Senart. Compare R. E. XIII. The Pâli Kośa defines nikâya as a 'body of co-religionists,’ while kula means a community of persons related by birth or caste. Sajâtinaṁ tu kulaṁ, nikâyo tu sadharmṁaṁ(Bhagwân Lâl, J. Bo. Br. Rut. S., xii. 408).
'Personal adherence;' my version follows Senart, in preference to Bühler, who renders 'the approach through one's own free will' of one sect to another.
Subject to the differences of opinion noted, the whole edict is completely understood, and my version may be accepted as satisfactory.
