Ashoka Edicts: Ancient History NCERT Notes For UPSC

Ashoka edicts are the 33 inscriptions engraved on the rocks and pillars by the Mauryan emperor, Ashoka, who ruled from 268 BCE to 232 BCE. Ashoka edicts were the proclamations by the emperor to the public at large which carried the message about the idea and practice of dhamma.

Ashoka inscriptions were scattered throughout Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal and Bangladesh. Most of these inscriptions were in Prakrit language These inscriptions are considered to be the first intangible evidence of Buddhism.

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Edicts of Ashoka: Types of Inscriptions

• There are four types of Ashoka edicts. They are:
• These edicts were classified based on the surface on which they were inscribed.
• James Princeps in 1837 deciphered the Ashokan inscriptions for the first time.
  • Major rock edicts
  • Minor rock edicts
  • Major pillar edicts
  • Minor pillar edicts

Also, Refer to NCERT Notes on Mauryan Empire for more details

Chronological Framework of Ashoka's Edicts

Chronologically, Ashoka’s inscriptions trace the evolution of his reign and dhamma policy:

• Kandahar Bilingual Inscription (Greek & Aramaic, Year 10): Earliest known Ashokan inscription, marking outreach to Hellenistic domains.
• Minor Rock Edicts (Year 11 onward): First Prakrit-language edicts (e.g., Maski, Bairat), often personal and declarative in tone.
• Major Rock Edicts (Year 12 onward): 14 proclamations laying out dhamma-based moral governance across the empire.
• Minor Pillar Edicts: Early pillar inscriptions like the Schism Edict and Lumbini pillar (Year 12 onward), often linked to Buddhist landmarks.
• Major Pillar Edicts (Years 26–27): Elaborate institutional, ethical edicts reinforcing dhamma-administration; the final (Seventh) edict appears only on the Delhi–Topra pillar

Ashoka Edicts – Major Rock Edicts

Major Rock Edicts were strategically placed across key regions—from the frontiers like Dhauli (Orissa) and Girnar (Gujarat) to central hubs like Kalsi (Dehradun) and Mansehra (Pakistan)—ensuring maximum visibility along trade routes and pilgrimage paths. These edicts served both spiritual and administrative roles, reinforcing Ashoka’s authority and moral message across a diverse empire

• Major rock edicts deal with Ashoka’s vision of peaceful existence by following the dhamma.
• There are about 14 major rock edicts and they are significantly detailed and extensive.
• All of the major rock edicts of Ashoka were inscribed on large rocks except for the Kandahar Greek edict of Ashoka.
• These Ashoka edicts were located on the frontiers of the territory controlled by the emperor Ashoka.

You can check NCERT notes on King Harshavardhana here.

Ashoka Edicts – Minor Rock Edicts

• Ashoka Minor rock edicts predate the Major rock edicts.
• It deals with the personal history of Ashoka and his summary of his dhamma.
• They are mostly located in Maski (Andhra pradesh), Brahmagiri (Karnataka), Sasaram (Bihar), Rupanath (Madhya Pradesh), Bhabru – Bairat (Rajasthan).
• Among all the minor rock edicts of Ashoka, the Maski version plays a very important role in the history. It confirms the association of the title Devanampiya piyadasi to the emperor Ashoka.
• Minor rock edict no 3 lists down the important Buddhist scriptures that the Buddhist clergy should study regularly.
• The texts of these inscriptions are short and the technical quality of engraving these inscriptions are also poor.
• Minor Rock Edicts—written in Prakrit via Brahmi script—represent Ashoka’s initial dhamma outreach. The Kandahar bilingual inscription (Greek–Aramaic) precedes them, signaling 
• Ashoka’s engagement with his Hellenistic neighbors. Notably, the Maski edict’s explicit mention of "Ashoka" clarified his identity as “Devanampiya Piyadasi” and confirmed authorship of the entire corpus

You might also like: NCERT notes on Ashoka- Life and Dharma

Ashoka Edicts – Major Pillar Edicts

Executed in Years 26–27 of his reign, the Major Pillar Edicts followed the breakdown of Hellenistic influence in Central Asia. As a result, unlike Major Rock Edict 13, which lists Greek rulers like Antiochus II and Ptolemy II, later pillar edicts shift focus solely to dhamma and administration, reflecting an inward turning of imperial policy

• Major pillar edicts of Ashoka refers to those exclusively inscribed on the Pillars of Ashoka
• Major rock edicts and minor rock edicts precedes them chronologically.
• These inscriptions were made during the final period of his reign.
• Except for two, all the other major pillar edicts are found in Central India.
• There are seven Major pillar edicts.

Ashoka Edicts – Minor Pillar Edicts

• The minor pillar edicts refer to the 5 minor edicts inscribed on the pillars of Ashoka.
• They are preceded by minor rock edicts.
• These edicts belong to the initial period of Ashoka’s reign.

Minor Pillar Edicts are less refined epigraphically than Major Pillar Edicts, but intriguingly, some pillars (e.g., Sarnath, Sanchi) pair them with exquisitely sculpted capitals—likely crafted by Perso-Hellenistic artisans—indicating that Ashoka prioritized elite artistic craftsmanship even when text carving was handled by local artisans, suggesting layered imperial messaging.

Ashoka Edicts – Languages

• Only three languages were used in the Ashoka edicts – Prakrit, Aramaic and Greek.
• Most of the Ashoka inscriptions were in Prakrit language.
• The Ashoka edicts in the North west of the subcontinent were in Greek and Aramaic.
• Most of the prakrit inscriptions were in Brahmi script and some of those in the northwest were in Kharosthi script.
• Inscriptions in Afghanistan were written in Greek and Aramaic script.
• The Kandahar rock inscription is bilingual i.e. written in both Greek and Aramaic.
• Regions employed different scripts depending on political-cultural contexts—Brahmi in central/eastern India, Kharoshthi in the northwest, and Greek/Aramaic along frontiers—indicating a nuanced, region-specific communication strategy tailored to linguistic reach.

Check NCERT notes on Gupta Empire here.

Important Facts of Ashoka Edicts

• In Ashoka edicts, the emperor (Ashoka) refers to himself as Devanampiya Piyadasi which means beloved of Gods.
•  The name Ashoka is explicitly mentioned only in three rock edicts which are in Maski, Gujjara and Nittur.
• Ashoka was the first king to make direct connection to the people via his inscriptions
• These inscriptions were mostly placed on the ancient highways.
• Ashoka edicts mostly revolved around some recurring themes such as Ashoka’s conversion to Buddhism, his efforts to spread dhamma, tolerance towards various religious sects, social welfare and animal welfare.

Strategic & Administrative Significance of the Edicts

Ashoka’s edicts were strategically placed on trade routes, near borders, and administrative centers to unify a vast, diverse empire through moral governance. They served to:

• Establish the centralized authority of the Mauryan state across varied socio-political zones.
• Communicate welfare policies (e.g., digging wells, planting trees, medical care) consistently, showcasing royal paternalism.
• Reinforce dhamma as a political ideology, transcending sectarian divides—a pioneering blend of ethical governance and practical statecraft.

You can check NCERT notes on the Chalukya dynasty here.

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