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Ashoka Quotes
304 BC–232 BC India
Ashoka the Great (Devanagari: अशोक; IAST transliteration: Aśoka, 304 BCE – 232 BCE), known also as Piyadasi (Pali. Sanskrit: Priyadarśin – meaning 'good looking'), and Devanaŋpiya (Pali.
India Military leaders Monarchs Also known as: Ashoka the Great, Edicts of Ashoka, Asoka
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11 quotes
King Piodasses made known Piety to men; and from this moment he has made men more pious, and everything thrives throughout the whole world.
King Piyadasi, does not consider glory and fame to be of great account unless they are achieved through having my subjects respect Dhamma and practice Dhamma, both now and in the future.
Edicts of Ashoka (-257)
Father and mother should be respected and so should elders, kindness to living beings should be made strong and the truth should be spoken.
Edicts of Ashoka (-257)
Now Beloved-of-the-Gods thinks that even those who do wrong should be forgiven where forgiveness is possible.
Edicts of Ashoka (-257)
Ten years (of reign) having been completed, King Piodasses (Piyadassi) made known (the doctrine of) Piety to men; and from this moment he has made men more pious, and everything thrives throughout the whole world.
This progress among the people through Dhamma has been done by two means, by Dhamma regulations and by persuasion. Of these, Dhamma regulation is of little effect, while persuasion has much more effect.
Edicts of Ashoka (-257)
Beloved-of-the-Gods, King Piyadasi, has caused this Dhamma edict to be written. Here (in my domain) no living beings are to be slaughtered or offered in sacrifice.
Edicts of Ashoka (-257)
He who does reverence to his own sect, while disparaging all other sects from a feeling of attachment to his own, on the supposition that he thus glorifies his own sect, in reality by such conduct inflicts severe injury on his own sect.
Whoever praises his own religion, due to excessive devotion, and condemns others with the thought "Let me glorify my own religion," only harms his own religion. Therefore contact (between religions) is good. One should listen to and respect the doctrines professed by others.
Edicts of Ashoka (-257)
Respect for mother and father is good, generosity to friends, acquaintances, relatives, Brahmans and ascetics is good, not killing living beings is good, moderation in spending and moderation in saving is good.
Edicts of Ashoka (-257)
Dhamma is good, but what constitutes Dhamma? (It includes) little evil, much good, kindness, generosity, truthfulness and purity. I have given the gift of sight in various ways. To two-footed and four-footed beings, to birds and aquatic animals, I have given various things including the gift of life. And many other good deeds have been done by me.
Edicts of Ashoka (-257)
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