Who among the following rulers advised his subjects through this inscription? "Whosoever praises his religious sect or blames other sects out of excessive devotion to his own sect, with the view of glorifying his own sect, he rather injures his own sect very severely."
Contents14
- AAshoka
- BSamudragupta
- CHarshavardhana
- DKrishnadeva Raya
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Answer: (A) Ashoka
The inscription about not praising one's own religion while blaming others is from Emperor Ashoka's Major Rock Edict XII.
In this edict, Ashoka says that if someone praises their own religion and condemns other religions out of excessive devotion, they actually HARM their own religion.
Instead, he promotes religious tolerance and says people should "listen to and respect the doctrines professed by others."
This reflects Ashoka's philosophy of Dhamma — emphasizing tolerance, respect for all religions, and non-sectarianism.
After the bloodshed of the Kalinga war, Ashoka adopted Buddhism and promoted peaceful coexistence.
Why not the others?
- Samudragupta: Known for military conquests (Gupta dynasty), not religious tolerance inscriptions.
- Harshavardhana: Though tolerant, he didn't issue this specific inscription.
- Krishnadeva Raya: A Vijayanagara ruler, much later period.
Answer: A (Ashoka).
Key Takeaway: Religious tolerance inscription = Ashoka's Rock Edict XII. Ashoka's key message: praising your own religion while condemning others actually HURTS your religion.
Ashoka's Major Rock Edict XII is the only ancient Indian inscription that explicitly warns against religious intolerance, making it highly distinctive among all royal edicts.
This edict captures Ashoka's core philosophy of Dhamma - that attacking other religions actually damages your own religion, a unique concept in ancient political thought.
Ashoka's Rock Edicts & Dhamma Philosophy
Ancient And Medieval History inscription religious sect excessive devotion glorifying
Ashoka's Rock Edicts & Dhamma: Religious Tolerance Policy
Major Rock Edict XII contains the inscription about not condemning other religions
Dhamma was Ashoka's policy of religious tolerance and moral conduct
Ashoka issued 14 Major Rock Edicts and 7 Minor Rock Edicts
Edicts were written in Brahmi and Kharosthi scripts
After the devastating Kalinga War (c. 261 BCE), Emperor Ashoka adopted Buddhism and developed his philosophy of Dhamma - a policy emphasizing religious tolerance, moral conduct, and peaceful coexistence. He communicated these principles through inscriptions on rocks and pillars across his empire.
Types of Ashokan Inscriptions
Type | Number | Key Content | Language/Script |
|---|---|---|---|
Major Rock Edicts | 14 | Dhamma policy, religious tolerance | Prakrit in Brahmi script |
Minor Rock Edicts | 7 | Personal Buddhism, local administration | Prakrit in Brahmi script |
Pillar Edicts | 7 | Later period, stricter Dhamma rules | Prakrit in Brahmi script |
Separate Edicts | Various | Specific instructions to officials | Regional scripts |
Major Rock Edict XII - Key Message
Core principle: Praising your own religion while condemning others actually harms your own religion
Positive instruction: Listen to and respect doctrines professed by others
Goal: Growth of the essence of religion rather than external rituals
Context: Written after Ashoka's conversion to Buddhism post-Kalinga War
Significance: First royal policy of systematic religious tolerance in Indian history
This specific inscription directly answers the PYQ - Ashoka advised subjects that excessive devotion leading to criticism of other sects would 'injure his own sect very severely'. This reflects his mature understanding that religious harmony strengthens society more than sectarian conflict.
Don't confuse Major Rock Edict XII with other edicts - this specific religious tolerance message is unique to Edict XII
Samudragupta is known for military conquests and Allahabad Pillar inscription by Harishena, not religious tolerance
Harshavardhana was religiously tolerant but didn't issue this specific inscription about sectarianism
Krishnadeva Raya belonged to much later Vijayanagara period (16th century), not ancient period
Dhamma - Ashoka's Moral Philosophy
Ancient And Medieval History religious sect blames other sects devotion
Dhamma: Ashoka's Revolutionary Policy of Religious Tolerance
Dhamma = Ashoka's policy combining Buddhist ethics with practical governance
Emphasized religious tolerance, moral conduct, and social welfare
Introduced after Kalinga War remorse and Buddhist conversion
Created Dhamma Mahamatras (moral officers) to implement policy
Dhamma was not Buddhism itself but Ashoka's synthesis of Buddhist moral principles with practical statecraft. It represented a shift from conquest through war (Digvijaya) to conquest through righteousness (Dharmavijaya).
Core Principles of Dhamma
# Ashoka's Dhamma
## Religious Policy
- Tolerance for all sects
- No criticism of others
- Respect for all doctrines
- Non-violence (Ahimsa)
## Social Ethics
- Kindness to servants
- Obedience to parents
- Generosity to friends
- Care for animals
## Administrative
- Dhamma Mahamatras
- Public welfare works
- Medical facilities
- Tree plantationDhamma vs Buddhism - Key Differences
Aspect | Buddhism (Religion) | Dhamma (Policy) |
|---|---|---|
Nature | Spiritual path to enlightenment | Practical code for governance |
Target | Individual salvation | Social harmony across empire |
Scope | Four Noble Truths, Eightfold Path | Basic moral conduct for all |
Application | Monastic and lay communities | All subjects regardless of religion |
Goal | Nirvana (liberation) | Peace and prosperity in empire |
Implementation of Dhamma
Dhamma Mahamatras: Special officers appointed to spread moral teachings and ensure welfare
Public works: Hospitals, veterinary centers, medicinal plants, roads with rest houses
Legal reforms: Reduced harsh punishments, promoted justice and equity
International diplomacy: Sent Dhamma missions to Greek kingdoms and Sri Lanka
Personal example: Ashoka reduced royal luxuries and hunting expeditions
Mauryan vs Later Dynasties - Religious Policies
Ancient And Medieval History Samudragupta Harshavardhana Krishnadeva Raya
Religious Policies: Mauryan vs Gupta vs Post-Gupta Rulers
Ashoka (Mauryan): First systematic policy of religious tolerance through Dhamma
Samudragupta (Gupta): Hindu patron but tolerant; known for Allahabad Pillar inscription
Harshavardhana: Buddhist patron, tolerant ruler, but no specific tolerance inscriptions
Krishnadeva Raya: Vijayanagara ruler, much later period (16th century)
Comparative Religious Policies
Ruler | Period | Personal Faith | Policy | Famous Inscription |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Ashoka | 3rd century BCE | Buddhism | Active tolerance through Dhamma | Major Rock Edict XII on sectarianism |
Samudragupta | 4th century CE | Hinduism | Passive tolerance, Hindu revival | Allahabad Pillar (by Harishena) |
Harshavardhana | 7th century CE | Buddhism | Personal tolerance, patronized Buddhism | Banskhera and Madhuban inscriptions |
Krishnadeva Raya | 16th century CE | Hinduism (Vaishnavism) | Hindu state with tolerance | Vijayanagara inscriptions in Kannada/Telugu |
Why Other Options Are Wrong
Samudragupta: 'Napoleon of India' for military conquests, not religious philosophy; his inscription praises military victories
Harshavardhana: Though Buddhist and tolerant, he's known for Kannauj assembly and Chinese traveler Xuanzang's accounts, not tolerance inscriptions
Krishnadeva Raya: Vijayanagara ruler focused on Telugu literature and Krishna devotion; lived 1,800+ years after Ashoka
Chronological trap: Only Ashoka (3rd century BCE) fits the ancient period when such systematic religious policy was revolutionary
The key distinction is that while later rulers practiced religious tolerance, only Ashoka issued specific inscriptions warning against religious sectarianism. His Major Rock Edict XII's language matches the PYQ quote exactly - making him the unmistakable answer.
Chronology confusion: Don't mix ancient (Mauryan), classical (Gupta), and medieval (Vijayanagara) periods
Tolerance vs inscriptions: Many rulers were tolerant, but only Ashoka issued this specific anti-sectarian inscription
Samudragupta's inscription is about military conquests, not religious philosophy
Harshavardhana is often confused with Ashoka due to Buddhist patronage, but he came 1,000 years later
Ashokan Inscriptions - Types & Locations
Ancient And Medieval History inscription
Ashokan Inscriptions: Complete Classification & UPSC Relevance
14 Major Rock Edicts contain Dhamma policy and administrative instructions
Major Rock Edict XII specifically deals with religious tolerance
Written primarily in Prakrit using Brahmi script
Found across the Mauryan empire from Afghanistan to Karnataka
Complete Classification of Ashokan Edicts
Type | Number | Period | Content Focus | Key Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Major Rock Edicts | I-XIV | Early reign | Dhamma policy, tolerance | XII: Religious tolerance |
Minor Rock Edicts | 3 | After conversion | Personal Buddhist faith | I: Buddhist devotion |
Pillar Edicts | I-VII | Later reign | Stricter Dhamma rules | VII: Last edict |
Separate Rock Edicts | 2 | Mid-reign | Specific administrative orders | Dhauli, Jaugada versions |
Minor Pillar Edicts | Various | Throughout reign | Local instructions | Queen's edict, Rummindei |
Major Locations
Source: Sleepy Classes — Solved] Consider the following pairs: Site of Ashoka's major rock ... · sleepyclasses.com
Scripts & Languages Used
Brahmi script: Most common, used for Prakrit language across northern and central India
Kharosthi script: Used in northwest regions (modern Pakistan/Afghanistan) for Prakrit
Greek and Aramaic: Used in Kandahar bilingual inscription for local populations
Regional variations: Some edicts adapted to local linguistic preferences
Decipherment: James Prinsep deciphered Brahmi script in 1837
Don't confuse Major Rock Edict numbers - XII is tolerance, XIII is Kalinga War remorse
Pillar Edicts are different from Rock Edicts - pillars came later and were stricter
Brahmi script was used for Prakrit, not Sanskrit - Sanskrit inscriptions came later
James Prinsep deciphered Brahmi, not William Jones (who worked on Sanskrit)