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The emperor Ashoka's Rock Edict was discovered in 1966,
engraved on a rock overlooking the Yamuna
near Srinivaspuri, 11-km southeast of Connaught Circus, not far from
Kalkaji.
A
ten-line inscription in the ancient Brahmi script, one of many such placed
at important sites and crossroads throughout Ashoka's vast empire. The
inscription proves that Delhi was occupied during the Mauryan period,
prior to both Muslim and Rajput settlement.
It states that the emperor's actions in the cause of dharma had brought
the people of India closer to the gods; and that through their efforts,
irrespective of their station, this attainment could be increased even
further.
About Askokan Eddicts
Asoka's edicts are mainly concerned with the reforms he instituted and
the moral principles he recommended in his attempt to create a just and
kind society. As such, they give us little information about his life, the
details of which have to be collected from other sources.
Scholars have implied that because the edicts say nothing about the
philosophical aspects of Buddhism, Ashoka had a simplistic and naive
understanding of the Dharma. Yet, this view does not take this fact into
account that the purpose of the edicts was not to explain the truths of
Buddhism, but to inform the people of Ashoka's reforms and to encourage
them to be more generous, kind and moral.
From his edicts Ashoka emerges as an able administrator, an intelligent
human being and a devoted Buddhist, who used to take as keen an interest
in Buddhist philosophy as he did in Buddhist practice.