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The author has reveals that the object of the present work is to bring together in a few handy and accessible volumes all the ancient inscriptions of India which now lie scattered about in the journals of our different Asiatic Societies. As some of these publications are very costly, and at the same time not easy to procure, the present publication will be the means of placing in the hands of all scholars, who are interested in the history and antiquities of India, a complete collection of authentic copies of all those precious records on stone and copper which have been discovered up to the present time. The present volume contains the Inscriptions of Asoka. The gathering together of revised and authentic copies of these important records in a single volume has long been wanted for the purpose of collation and of re-translation by competent scholars. This want will, he hopes, be met by the collection which he now present to the public. No effort has been spared to render it complete, and at the same time to present the most perfect and authentic copy of each inscription that can now be made. The earliest Indian inscriptions that have yet been discovered are the Edicts of Asoka. These are of two distinct classes which are generally known as Rock Inscriptions, and Pillar Inscriptions to which may be added a few Cave Inscriptions in Bihar and Orissa. The five Rock Inscriptions hitherto known present us with five different texts of the same series of edicts which were published by Asoka in the 10th and 12th years of his reign, or in 253 and 251 B. C.
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ISBN : 9788121224819
Pages : 237
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