ASOKA'S MESSAGE TO HIS PEOPLE

Asoka, the Great, ruled from 222 to 260 B. C., embraced the religion, and spread it over India and far beyond the limits of India. "If a man's fame," says Kopen, "can be measured, by the number of lips that have mentioned and still mention him with honor, Asoka is more famous than Charlemagne or Caesar."

Thus spake royal Piyadasi,
Of the Gods beloved;
"Grace and righteous exhortation
Have my subjects moved.
For my pastors to the people
Holy lessons sing,--
And my priests to countless thousands
Loving message bring!

I have spoke to subject peoples,
Precepts I have loved;
I have carved on rock-made pillars,
Lessons I have proved.
Ministers of faith and duty
Have my mandates told;
Spoke to near and distant nations,
Maxims, loved of old!

And within my spacious empire,
By each highway made,
Figs and mangoes I have planted,
For repose and shade;
Wells I made, for man and cattle,
All that breathe and move,--
But with higher toil constructed
Springs of faith and love!

Scatter then my royal riches,
Spread my bounty, then,
To the monk and to the toiler,--
To all living men,
To the Brahman and the Sharman,--
To all sects of fame;
Let each clan and corporation
Know Asoka's name!

And unto my royal bounty,
Others add their store,
For my queens, with queenly mercy,
Help the helpless poor;
And my white-robed, royal children,
Acts of kindness prove,
Charity and Truth and Kindness,
Purity and Love!

Thus, in ever-growing current,
May our bounty flow,
To the Brahman and the Sharma,--
To the poor and low:
For the humble and the lowly,
Special kindness crave!
May our mercy reach the menial,
Cheer the unchained slave!

Laws severe, we vainly fashion,
Codes we vainly start;
Gentle teaching, soft persuasion,
Touch the people's heart.
Hence, I carve this loving edict,
Speak these maxims, pure,--
Future shall work as long as
Sun and moon endure!

Since I won my father's empire,--
Since this state was mine,
Past are seven and twenty autumns
When I carve this line.
Where 'tis writ on stony pillar,
In this empire, vast,
Unto far and distant ages
May this Edict last!"
Pillar Edict, .

ASOKA'S MESSAGE TO FOREIGN NATIONS