Page:History of India Vol 2.djvu/210

172 ASOKA MAUEYA AND HIS SUCCESSORS doctrine beyond the limits of India; and, if a Chris- tian parallel must be sought, his work is comparable with that of Saint Paul, rather than with that of Con- stantine. Upagupta, to whom the conversion of Asoka is ascribed, is said to have been the son of G-upta, a per- fumer, and to have been born either at Benares or Mathura. Probably he was a native of the latter city, where the monastery built by him still existed in the seventh century. Tradition also associated his name with Sind, in which country he is said to have made frequent missionary journeys. The vigorous and effective action taken by Asoka to propagate his creed and system of morals is con- clusive proof of his absolute honesty of purpose, and justifies the modern reader in giving full credence to the devout professions made by him in the edicts. " Work I must," he observed, " for the public bene- fit; " and work he did. The world still enjoys the fruit of his labours, and his words, long lost, but now re- stored to utterance, ring with the sound of sincerity and truth. Asoka was a hard-working king, as unwearied in business as Philip n of Spain, ready to receive reports " at any hour and any place," and yet dissatisfied with the outcome of his industry. " I am never," he laments, " fully satisfied with my exertions and despatch of business." Probably he worked too hard, and would have effected still more if he had done less. But his ideal of duty was high, and, like the Stoic philosopher,