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Greek historians mentioned the result of [[Seleucid–Mauryan war]] where Seleucid Empire's eastern satrapies( [[Gedrosia]],[[Arachosia]], [[Aria]], and [[Paropamisadae]]) ceded to Mauryan Empire : | Greek historians mentioned the result of [[Seleucid–Mauryan war]] where Seleucid Empire's eastern satrapies( [[Gedrosia]],[[Arachosia]], [[Aria]], and [[Paropamisadae]]) ceded to Mauryan Empire : | ||
{{quote|text= " Seleucus crossed the Indus and waged war with Sandrocottus [Maurya], king of he Indians, who dwelt on the banks of that stream, until they came to an understanding with each other and contracted a marriage relationship. Some of these exploits were performed before the death of Antigonus and some afterward." |sign=<small>[[Appian]]</small>|source=''History of Rome'', The Syrian Wars [https://www.livius.org/sources/content/appian/appian-the-syrian-wars/appian-the-syrian-wars-11/ 55]}} | {{quote|text= " Seleucus crossed the Indus and waged war with Sandrocottus [Maurya], king of he Indians, who dwelt on the banks of that stream, until they came to an understanding with each other and contracted a marriage relationship. Some of these exploits were performed before the death of Antigonus and some afterward." |sign=<small>[[Appian]]</small>|source=''History of Rome'', The Syrian Wars [https://www.livius.org/sources/content/appian/appian-the-syrian-wars/appian-the-syrian-wars-11/ 55]}} | ||
{{quote|text= " The geographical position of the tribes is as follows: along the Indus are the Paropamisadae, above whom lies the Paropamisus mountain: then, towards the south, the Arachoti: then next, towards the south, the Gedroseni, with the other tribes that occupy the seaboard; and the Indus lies, latitudinally, alongside all these places; and of these places, in part, some that lie along the Indus are held by Indians, although they formerly belonged to the Persians. Alexander [III 'the Great' of Macedon] took these away from the Arians and established settlements of his own, but [[Seleucus Nicator]] gave them to [[Sandrocottus]] [Chandragupta], upon terms of intermarriage and of receiving in exchange five hundred elephants. " |sign=<small>[[Strabo]] </small>|source= 15.2.9[https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Strabo/15B*.html#2.9] }} | {{quote|text= " The geographical position of the tribes is as follows: along the Indus are the Paropamisadae, above whom lies the Paropamisus mountain: then, towards the south, the Arachoti: then next, towards the south, the Gedroseni, with the other tribes that occupy the seaboard; and the Indus lies, latitudinally, alongside all these places; and of these places, in part, some that lie along the Indus are held by Indians, although they formerly belonged to the Persians. Alexander [III 'the Great' of Macedon] took these away from the Arians and established settlements of his own, but [[Seleucus Nicator]] gave them to [[Sandrocottus]] [Chandragupta], upon terms of intermarriage and of receiving in exchange five hundred elephants. " |sign=<small>[[Strabo]] </small>|source= 15.2.9<ref>[https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Strabo/15B*.html#2.9]</ref> }} | ||
Greecian historian Pliny also quoted a passage from Megasthanes work about Chandragupta Empire boundaries: | Greecian historian Pliny also quoted a passage from Megasthanes work about Chandragupta Empire boundaries: | ||
<blockquote> | <blockquote> | ||
Most geographers, in fact, do not look upon India as bounded by the river Indus, but add to it the four satrapies of the [[Gedrosia|Gedrose]], the [[Arachosia|Arachotë]], the [[Herat|Aria]], and the [[Paropamisadë]], the [[Kabul River|River Cophes]] thus forming the extreme boundary of India. According to other writers, however, all these territories, are reckoned as belonging to the country of the Aria. | Most geographers, in fact, do not look upon India as bounded by the river Indus, but add to it the four satrapies of the [[Gedrosia|Gedrose]], the [[Arachosia|Arachotë]], the [[Herat|Aria]], and the [[Paropamisadë]], the [[Kabul River|River Cophes]] thus forming the extreme boundary of India. According to other writers, however, all these territories, are reckoned as belonging to the country of the Aria. | ||
— Pliny, Natural History VI, 23 [https://archive.today/20121210070738/http://perseus.mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de/cgi-bin/ptext?lookup=Plin.+Nat.+6.23][https://archive.org/details/naturalhistoryof21855plin/page/50/mode/1up] | — Pliny, Natural History VI, 23<ref>Pliny, Natural History VI, 23[https://archive.today/20121210070738/http://perseus.mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de/cgi-bin/ptext?lookup=Plin.+Nat.+6.23]</ref><ref>Pliny, Natural History VI, 23[https://archive.org/details/naturalhistoryof21855plin/page/50/mode/1up]</ref> | ||
</blockquote> | </blockquote> | ||
The conquest of the south by Chandragupta Maurya may also perhaps be inferred from the following statement of Plutarch. "The throne" in the context is the Magadhan throne, the occupation of which by Chandragupta is thus followed by two other events, viz., the defeat of Selucus, and the conquest of the remaining part of India not included in the Magadhan empire of the Nandas: | The conquest of the south by Chandragupta Maurya may also perhaps be inferred from the following statement of Plutarch. "The throne" in the context is the Magadhan throne, the occupation of which by Chandragupta is thus followed by two other events, viz., the defeat of Selucus, and the conquest of the remaining part of India not included in the Magadhan empire of the Nandas: | ||
<blockquote>"Not long afterwards Androkottos, who had by that time mounted the throne, presented Selukos with 500 elephants, and overran and subdued the whole of India with an army of 600,000." | <blockquote>"Not long afterwards Androkottos, who had by that time mounted the throne, presented Selukos with 500 elephants, and overran and subdued the whole of India with an army of 600,000." | ||
<br> | |||
— Chapter LXII ,Life of Alexander, Plutarch [https://books.google.co.in/books?id=TXtEAQAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false] | — Chapter LXII ,Life of Alexander, Plutarch<ref>Chapter LXII ,Life of Alexander, Plutarch [https://books.google.co.in/books?id=TXtEAQAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false]</ref> | ||
</blockquote> | </blockquote> | ||
Megasthenes defined the region that Chandragupta won from Seleucus as likely western side Gedrosia which shares boundaries with the Euphrates River, and eastern side Arachosia shares boundaries with the Indus. The northern frontier boundary formed by Hindukush mountain range: | Megasthenes defined the region that Chandragupta won from Seleucus as likely western side Gedrosia which shares boundaries with the Euphrates River, and eastern side Arachosia shares boundaries with the Indus. The northern frontier boundary formed by Hindukush mountain range: | ||
<blockquote> | <blockquote> | ||
India, which is in shape quadrilateral, has its eastern as well as its | India, which is in shape quadrilateral, has its eastern as well as its western side bounded by the great sea, but on the northern side it is divided by Mount Hemôdos from that part of Skythia which is inhabited by those Skythians who are called the Sakai, while the fourth or western side is bounded by the river called the Indus. | ||
<br> | |||
— Book I Fragment I , Indica, Megasthanes [https://archive.org/details/AncientIndiaAsDescribedByMegasthenesAndArrianByMccrindleJ.W/page/n39/mode/1up] | — Book I Fragment I , Indica, Megasthanes<ref>Book I Fragment I , Indica, Megasthanes by Mccrindle, J. W[https://archive.org/details/AncientIndiaAsDescribedByMegasthenesAndArrianByMccrindleJ.W/page/n39/mode/1up]</ref> | ||
</blockquote> | </blockquote> | ||
[[File:SakastanMap.jpg|thumb|Satrapian provinces in northwestern India which ceaded to Chandragupta by Selucus due to [[Treaty of Indus]].]] | [[File:SakastanMap.jpg|thumb|Satrapian provinces in northwestern India which ceaded to Chandragupta by Selucus due to [[Treaty of Indus]].]] | ||
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India is bounded on its eastern side, right onwards to the south, by the great ocean; that its northern frontier is formed by the Kaukasos range(Hindukush Range) as far as the junction of that range with Tauros; and that the boundary. | India is bounded on its eastern side, right onwards to the south, by the great ocean; that its northern frontier is formed by the Kaukasos range(Hindukush Range) as far as the junction of that range with Tauros; and that the boundary. | ||
— Book I Fragment II , Indica, Megasthanes [https://archive.org/details/AncientIndiaAsDescribedByMegasthenesAndArrianByMccrindleJ.W/page/n54/mode/1up] | — Book I Fragment II , Indica, Megasthanes<ref>Book I Fragment II , Indica, Megasthanes[https://archive.org/details/AncientIndiaAsDescribedByMegasthenesAndArrianByMccrindleJ.W/page/n54/mode/1up]</ref> | ||
</blockquote> | </blockquote> | ||
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<blockquote>Ashoka brought under his rule without bloodshed all the countries including those to the south of the Vindhya. And he conquered the northern Himalayas, the snowy ranges beyond Li-yul (Khotan)," the entire land of Jambudvipa bounded by seas on east, south and west, and also fifty small islands. | <blockquote>Ashoka brought under his rule without bloodshed all the countries including those to the south of the Vindhya. And he conquered the northern Himalayas, the snowy ranges beyond Li-yul (Khotan)," the entire land of Jambudvipa bounded by seas on east, south and west, and also fifty small islands. | ||
— History Of Buddhism In India ,Taranatha<ref>https://archive.org/details/TaranathasHistoryOfBuddhismInIndia/page/n89/mode/2up</ref> | — History Of Buddhism In India ,Taranatha<ref>History Of Buddhism In India ,Taranatha[https://archive.org/details/TaranathasHistoryOfBuddhismInIndia/page/n89/mode/2up]</ref> | ||
</blockquote> | </blockquote> | ||
<blockquote> | |||
Ashoka served as a viceroy during the rule of his father Bindusara. | Ashoka served as a viceroy during the rule of his father Bindusara. | ||
According to established constitutional usage, Asoka as Prince served as viceroy in one of the remoter provinces of the Empire. This was the province of Western India called Avantirattham or province of Avanti with headquarter at Ujjain.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.co.in/books?id=uXyftdtE1ygC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false|title=Asoka|last=Mookerji|first=Radhakumud|date=1962|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publishe|isbn=978-81-208-0582-8|language=en}}</ref> | According to established constitutional usage, Asoka as Prince served as viceroy in one of the remoter provinces of the Empire. This was the province of Western India called Avantirattham or province of Avanti with headquarter at Ujjain. | ||
<br> | |||
— Mahabodhivamsa, pg.98<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.co.in/books?id=uXyftdtE1ygC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false|title=Asoka|last=Mookerji|first=Radhakumud|date=1962|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publishe|isbn=978-81-208-0582-8|language=en}}</ref> | |||
</blockquote> | |||
[[File:Bindusara Empire.png|thumb|Bindusara Empire 273 BCE]] | [[File:Bindusara Empire.png|thumb|Bindusara Empire 273 BCE]] | ||
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''8. mauryasya rājyaḥ candra-guptasya rāṣṭriyena vaiśyena puṣpa-guptena kāritam śokasya mauryasya kṛte yavana-raj tuṣāra-saphenādhāyā'' | ''8. mauryasya rājyaḥ candra-guptasya rāṣṭriyena vaiśyena puṣpa-guptena kāritam śokasya mauryasya kṛte yavana-raj tuṣāra-saphenādhāyā'' | ||
—Junagadh rock inscription of Rudradaman<ref name="WB">[http://projectsouthasia.sdstate.edu/Docs/HISTORY/PRIMARYDOCS/EPIGRAPHY/JunagadhRockInscription.htm "Junagadh Rock Inscription of Rudradaman", ''Project South Asia''.]{{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090223182107/http://projectsouthasia.sdstate.edu/Docs/HISTORY/PRIMARYDOCS/EPIGRAPHY/JunagadhRockInscription.htm |date=23 February 2009 }}</ref> | —Junagadh rock inscription of [[Rudradaman]]<ref name="WB">[http://projectsouthasia.sdstate.edu/Docs/HISTORY/PRIMARYDOCS/EPIGRAPHY/JunagadhRockInscription.htm "Junagadh Rock Inscription of Rudradaman", ''Project South Asia''.]{{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090223182107/http://projectsouthasia.sdstate.edu/Docs/HISTORY/PRIMARYDOCS/EPIGRAPHY/JunagadhRockInscription.htm |date=23 February 2009 }}</ref> | ||
'''Translation''' : for the sake of ordered to be made by the Vaishya Pushyagupta, the provincial governor of the Maurya king [[Chandragupta Maurya|Chandragupta]]; adorned with conduits for [[Ashoka]] the Maurya by the [[Yavana]] king [[Tushaspha]] while governing; and by the conduit ordered to be made by him, constructed in a manner worthy of a king (and) seen in that breach. | '''Translation''' : for the sake of ordered to be made by the Vaishya Pushyagupta, the provincial governor of the Maurya king [[Chandragupta Maurya|Chandragupta]]; adorned with conduits for [[Ashoka]] the Maurya by the [[Yavana]] king [[Tushaspha]] while governing; and by the conduit ordered to be made by him, constructed in a manner worthy of a king (and) seen in that breach. | ||
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''10. Adha Paladeshu shavata Devānampiyashā dhammanushathi anuvatamti[] yata pi dutā'' | ''10. Adha Paladeshu shavata Devānampiyashā dhammanushathi anuvatamti[] yata pi dutā'' | ||
— Ashoka, Rock Edict 13 , Kalsi Rock, South Portion.[https://archive.org/details/InscriptionsOfAsoka.NewEditionByE.Hultzsch/page/n186/mode/1up?view=theater] | — Ashoka, Rock Edict 13 , Kalsi Rock, South Portion.<ref>Ashoka, Rock Edict 13 , Kalsi Rock, South Portion by E. Hultzsch[https://archive.org/details/InscriptionsOfAsoka.NewEditionByE.Hultzsch/page/n186/mode/1up?view=theater]</ref> | ||
'''Translation''' : Likewise here in the king's (Ashoka ) territory, among the [[Yonas]] and [[Kambojas]], among the [[Nabhakas]] and [[Nabhapamkits]], among the [[Bhojas]] and the [[Pitinikas]], among the [[Andhras]] and the [[Palidas]], everywhere (people) are conforming to Beloved-Of-God (Ashoka) instruction in morality. | '''Translation''' : Likewise here in the king's (Ashoka ) territory, among the [[Yonas]] and [[Kambojas]], among the [[Nabhakas]] and [[Nabhapamkits]], among the [[Bhojas]] and the [[Pitinikas]], among the [[Andhras]] and the [[Palidas]], everywhere (people) are conforming to Beloved-Of-God (Ashoka) instruction in morality. | ||
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<blockquote> "Beloved-of-the-Gods, King Priyadarsi(Ashoka)conquered the Kalingas eight years after his coronation. One hundred and fifty thousand were deported, one hundred thousand were killed and many more died (from other causes). After the Kalingas had been conquered, Beloved-of-the-Gods came to feel a strong inclination towards the Dharma, a love for the Dharma and for instruction in Dharma. Now Beloved-of-the-Gods feels deep remorse for having conquered the Kalingas. " | <blockquote> "Beloved-of-the-Gods, King Priyadarsi(Ashoka)conquered the Kalingas eight years after his coronation. One hundred and fifty thousand were deported, one hundred thousand were killed and many more died (from other causes). After the Kalingas had been conquered, Beloved-of-the-Gods came to feel a strong inclination towards the Dharma, a love for the Dharma and for instruction in Dharma. Now Beloved-of-the-Gods feels deep remorse for having conquered the Kalingas. " | ||
— Ashoka, Major Rock Edict 13 [https://books.google.co.in/books?id=K4vHjbUtf_4C&pg=PT82&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=false] | — Ashoka, Major Rock Edict 13<ref>Ashoka, Major Rock Edict 13 [https://books.google.co.in/books?id=K4vHjbUtf_4C&pg=PT82&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=false] | ||
</blockquote> | </blockquote></ref> | ||
===Conquest of the Kuntala=== | ===Conquest of the Kuntala=== | ||
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''Kuntala-kshôpiyam pesarvett â-nava-Nanda-Gupta-kula-Mauryya-kshmâpar aldar llasaj-jasad'' | ''Kuntala-kshôpiyam pesarvett â-nava-Nanda-Gupta-kula-Mauryya-kshmâpar aldar llasaj-jasad'' | ||
— Shikarpur Taluq, inscription 225 [https://archive.org/details/epigraphia_carnatica_vol7_myso/page/n327/mode/1up][https://archive.org/details/epigraphia_carnatica_vol7_myso/page/n587/mode/1up] | — Shikarpur Taluq, inscription 225<ref>Shikarpur Taluq inscription 225, Epigraphia Carnatica, Volume 17[https://archive.org/details/epigraphia_carnatica_vol7_myso/page/n327/mode/1up]</ref><ref>Shikarpur Taluq inscription 225, Epigraphia Carnatica Volume 17[https://archive.org/details/epigraphia_carnatica_vol7_myso/page/n587/mode/1up]</ref> | ||
'''Translation''' : The Kuntala country, which is like curls (kuntaja) to the lady Earth, was-ruled by the renowned nine Nandas, the Gupta and Mauryan kings. | '''Translation''' : The Kuntala country, which is like curls (kuntaja) to the lady Earth, was-ruled by the renowned nine Nandas, the Gupta and Mauryan kings. | ||
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Meanwhile, peoples of the hilly countries like Nepal and Khasya revolted. Asoka was sent with the army to subdue them. Without difficulty Asoka subdued .the hilly races, imposed levy and annual tax on them, realised ransom from them and offered these to the king. | Meanwhile, peoples of the hilly countries like Nepal and Khasya revolted. Asoka was sent with the army to subdue them. Without difficulty Asoka subdued .the hilly races, imposed levy and annual tax on them, realised ransom from them and offered these to the king. | ||
— History Of Buddhism In India ,[[Taranatha]][https://archive.org/details/TaranathasHistoryOfBuddhismInIndia/page/n80/mode/1up] | — History Of Buddhism In India ,[[Taranatha]]<ref>History Of Buddhism In India ,[[Taranatha]][https://archive.org/details/TaranathasHistoryOfBuddhismInIndia/page/n80/mode/1up]</ref> | ||
</blockquote> | </blockquote> | ||
Apart from Taranath's account, it is noteworthy that Ashoka was responsible for the construction of several significant structures in Nepal. These include the [[Ramagrama Stupa]],[[Gotihawa|Gotihawa Pillar of Ashoka]], [[Nigali Sagar|Nigali-Sagar Ashoka Pillar inscription]] , and the [[Lumbini pillar inscription]] of Ashoka.The Chinese pilgrims [[Fa-Hien]] (337 CE – c. 422 CE) and [[Xuanzang]] (602–664 CE) describe the Kanakamuni Stupa and the Asoka Pillar of currently Nepal region in their travel accounts. Xuanzang speaks of a lion capital atop the pillar, now lost. A base of a [[Pillar of Ashoka]] has been discovered at [[Gotihawa]], a few miles from Nigali Sagar, and it has been suggested that it is the original base of the Nigalar Sagar pillar fragments.<ref | Apart from Taranath's account, it is noteworthy that Ashoka was responsible for the construction of several significant structures in Nepal. These include the [[Ramagrama Stupa]],[[Gotihawa|Gotihawa Pillar of Ashoka]], [[Nigali Sagar|Nigali-Sagar Ashoka Pillar inscription]] , and the [[Lumbini pillar inscription]] of Ashoka.The Chinese pilgrims [[Fa-Hien]] (337 CE – c. 422 CE) and [[Xuanzang]] (602–664 CE) describe the Kanakamuni Stupa and the Asoka Pillar of currently Nepal region in their travel accounts. Xuanzang speaks of a lion capital atop the pillar, now lost. A base of a [[Pillar of Ashoka]] has been discovered at [[Gotihawa]], a few miles from Nigali Sagar, and it has been suggested that it is the original base of the Nigalar Sagar pillar fragments.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Ghosh |first=A. |date=1967 |title=The Pillars of Aśoka - Their Purpose |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/29755169 |journal=East and West |volume=17 |issue=3/4 |pages=273–275 |issn=0012-8376}}</ref> | ||
===Boundaries sharing territories=== | ===Boundaries sharing territories=== | ||
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''4. savratra Devanaṃpriyasa Priyadraśisa raño du[vi] cik[i]sa [kr]i[ṭa] manusa-cikisa .. pa[śu-c]ikisa [ca]'' | ''4. savratra Devanaṃpriyasa Priyadraśisa raño du[vi] cik[i]sa [kr]i[ṭa] manusa-cikisa .. pa[śu-c]ikisa [ca]'' | ||
—Second Rock-Edict: Shahbazgarhi [https://archive.org/details/dli.ministry.25989/page/51/mode/1up] | —Second Rock-Edict: Shahbazgarhi<ref>Second Rock-Edict, Shahbazgarhi by E. Hultzsch[https://archive.org/details/dli.ministry.25989/page/51/mode/1up]</ref> | ||
</blockquote> | </blockquote> | ||
---- | ---- | ||
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''5. Aṃtiyoge [n]āma Yona-lājā ye ca aṃne tas[ā A]ṃtiyogasā sā[ma]ṃta lā[j]ano [sa]vatā Devānaṃpiyasā Piyadasisā lājine duve cikisakā kaṭā manusacikisā cā pasu-cikisā cā '' | ''5. Aṃtiyoge [n]āma Yona-lājā ye ca aṃne tas[ā A]ṃtiyogasā sā[ma]ṃta lā[j]ano [sa]vatā Devānaṃpiyasā Piyadasisā lājine duve cikisakā kaṭā manusacikisā cā pasu-cikisā cā '' | ||
—Second Rock Edict: Kalsi [https://archive.org/details/dli.ministry.25989/page/28/mode/1up] | —Second Rock Edict: Kalsi<ref>Second Rock Edict, Kalsi by E. Hultzsch[https://archive.org/details/dli.ministry.25989/page/28/mode/1up]</ref> | ||
</blockquote> | </blockquote> | ||
---- | ---- | ||
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''7. duve chikisa [ka]ta manusa-chik[isa cha] pasu [chi]kisa cha '' | ''7. duve chikisa [ka]ta manusa-chik[isa cha] pasu [chi]kisa cha '' | ||
—Second Rock Edict: Mansehra [https://archive.org/details/dli.ministry.25989/page/71/mode/1up] | —Second Rock Edict: Mansehra<ref>Second Rock Edict, Mansehra by E. Hultzsch[https://archive.org/details/dli.ministry.25989/page/71/mode/1up]</ref> | ||
</blockquote> | </blockquote> | ||
---- | ---- | ||
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''5 manusa-cīkichā ca pasu cikīchā ca'' | ''5 manusa-cīkichā ca pasu cikīchā ca'' | ||
—Second Rock Edict :Girnar [https://archive.org/details/dli.ministry.25989/page/n136/mode/1up] | —Second Rock Edict :Girnar<ref>Second Rock Edict, Girnar by E. Hultzsch[https://archive.org/details/dli.ministry.25989/page/n136/mode/1up]</ref> | ||
</blockquote> | </blockquote> | ||
---- | ---- | ||
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<br> | <br> | ||
<blockquote> " King Asoka having destroyed seven (of the original) pagodas, constructed 84,000 others. The very first which he built is the great tower which stands about three li to the south of this. city. In front of this pagoda is an impression of Buddha’s foot, (over which) they have raised a chapel, the gate of which faces the north. To the south of the tower is a stone pillar, about a chang and a half in girth (18 feet), and three cluing or so in height (35 feet). On the surface of this pillar is an inscription to the following effect: “King Asoka presented the whole of Jambudvipa to the priests of the four quarters, and redeemed it again with money, and tins he did three times.” Three or four hundred paces to the north of the pagoda is the spot where Asoka was horn (or resided). On this spot he raised the city of Ni-li, and in the midst of it erected a stone pillar, also about 35 feet in height, on the top of which he placed the figure of a lion, and also engraved an historical record on the pillar giving an account of the successive events connected with Ni-li, with the corresponding year, day, and month." | <blockquote> " King Asoka having destroyed seven (of the original) pagodas, constructed 84,000 others. The very first which he built is the great tower which stands about three li to the south of this. city. In front of this pagoda is an impression of Buddha’s foot, (over which) they have raised a chapel, the gate of which faces the north. To the south of the tower is a stone pillar, about a chang and a half in girth (18 feet), and three cluing or so in height (35 feet). On the surface of this pillar is an inscription to the following effect: “King Asoka presented the whole of Jambudvipa to the priests of the four quarters, and redeemed it again with money, and tins he did three times.” Three or four hundred paces to the north of the pagoda is the spot where Asoka was horn (or resided). On this spot he raised the city of Ni-li, and in the midst of it erected a stone pillar, also about 35 feet in height, on the top of which he placed the figure of a lion, and also engraved an historical record on the pillar giving an account of the successive events connected with Ni-li, with the corresponding year, day, and month." | ||
<br> | |||
— Chapter XXVII , The travels of Fa-Hian (400 A.D)<ref>Chapter XXVII , The travels of Fa-Hian (400 A.D)[https://www.wisdomlib.org/south-asia/book/the-travels-of-fa-hian/d/doc220127.html]</ref></blockquote> | |||
— Chapter XXVII , The travels of Fa-Hian (400 A.D)[https://www.wisdomlib.org/south-asia/book/the-travels-of-fa-hian/d/doc220127.html]</blockquote> | |||
<br /> | <br /> | ||
<blockquote> | <blockquote> | ||
" When King Asoka was living he wished to destroy the eight towers and to build eighty-four thousand others. Having destroyed seven, he next proceeded to treat this one in the same way." | " When King Asoka was living he wished to destroy the eight towers and to build eighty-four thousand others. Having destroyed seven, he next proceeded to treat this one in the same way." | ||
— Chapter XXIII ,The travels of Fa-Hian (400 A.D)[https://www.wisdomlib.org/south-asia/book/the-travels-of-fa-hian/d/doc220123.html] | — Chapter XXIII ,The travels of Fa-Hian (400 A.D)<ref>Chapter XXIII ,The travels of Fa-Hian (400 A.D)[https://www.wisdomlib.org/south-asia/book/the-travels-of-fa-hian/d/doc220123.html]</ref> | ||
</blockquote> | </blockquote> | ||
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<blockquote> | <blockquote> | ||
" In after times Asoka, wishing to discover the utmost depths to which these ladders went, employed men to dig down and examine into it. They went on digging till they came to the yellow spring (the earth's foundation), but yet had not come to the bottom. The king, deriving from this an increase of faith and reverence, forthwith built over the ladders a and facing the middle flight he placed a standing figure (of Buddha) sixteen feet high. Behind the vihara, he erected a stone pillar thirty cubits high, and on the top placed the figure of a lion. Within the pillar on the four sides are figures of Buddha; both within and without it is shining and bright as glass. It happened once that some heretical doctors had a contention with the Sramanas respecting this as a place of residence. Then the argument of the Sramanas failing, they all agreed to the following compact: "If this place properly belongs to the Sramanas, then there will he some supernatural proof given of it." Immediately on this the lion on the top of the pillar uttered a loud roar." | " In after times Asoka, wishing to discover the utmost depths to which these ladders went, employed men to dig down and examine into it. They went on digging till they came to the yellow spring (the earth's foundation), but yet had not come to the bottom. The king, deriving from this an increase of faith and reverence, forthwith built over the ladders a and facing the middle flight he placed a standing figure (of Buddha) sixteen feet high. Behind the vihara, he erected a stone pillar thirty cubits high, and on the top placed the figure of a lion. Within the pillar on the four sides are figures of Buddha; both within and without it is shining and bright as glass. It happened once that some heretical doctors had a contention with the Sramanas respecting this as a place of residence. Then the argument of the Sramanas failing, they all agreed to the following compact: "If this place properly belongs to the Sramanas, then there will he some supernatural proof given of it." Immediately on this the lion on the top of the pillar uttered a loud roar." | ||
—Chapter XVII, The travels of Fa-Hian (400 A.D)[https://www.wisdomlib.org/south-asia/book/the-travels-of-fa-hian/d/doc220117.html] | —Chapter XVII, The travels of Fa-Hian (400 A.D)<ref>Chapter XVII, The travels of Fa-Hian (400 A.D)[https://www.wisdomlib.org/south-asia/book/the-travels-of-fa-hian/d/doc220117.html]</ref> | ||
</blockquote> | </blockquote> | ||
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===Popular Maps=== | ===Popular Maps=== | ||
Indian New Parliament already | Indian New Parliament already | ||
have carved Mauryan Empire over mural which represents Indian integrity and glorious past | have carved Mauryan Empire over mural which represents Indian integrity and glorious past.<ref>{{Cite web|title=New Parliament Ashoka Empire mural|url=https://bharatmotherofdemocracy.ignca.gov.in/contents/ashoka-responsible-and-accountable-governance/$OG_IMAGE|access-date=2024-07-22|website=bharatmotherofdemocracy.ignca.gov.in|language=en}}</ref>. Several historians have reconstructed the map of the Mauryan Empire based on details from Ashoka's inscriptions and accounts from Greek historians, among other sources. For example : | ||
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; width:100%;" | {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; width:100%;" | ||
| Line 393: | Line 391: | ||
|Historical Geographer C. Collin Davies | |Historical Geographer C. Collin Davies | ||
| [https://archive.org/details/dli.ernet.509319/page/13/mode/1up His designed map] | | [https://archive.org/details/dli.ernet.509319/page/13/mode/1up His designed map] | ||
|- | |||
|Indologist Prof. N.A. Nikam and American Philosopher [[Richard McKeon|Prof. Richard McKeon]] | |||
| [https://archive.org/details/TheEdictsOfAsokaNikamMcKeon/page/n25/mode/1up Their designed map] | |||
|- | |||
|Group of historian namely [[Jeremy Adelman]], [[Peter Brown]], [[Benjamin A. Elman]], [[Stephen Kotkin]], [[Xinru Liu]], [[Gyan Prakash]], [[Brent Shaw]] and Archeologist [[Holly Pittman]] | |||
| [https://archive.org/details/worldstogetherwo0000unse_p0y1/page/234/mode/2up?q=%22various+Afro-Eurasian+worlds+together%22 Their designed world map for 250 BCE] | |||
|- | |||
|Professor of East Asian Studies, [[William J. Duiker]] | |||
| | |||
[https://archive.org/details/essentialworldhi0000duik_s5l0/page/51/mode/1up?q=%22The+Empire+of+Ashoka.+Ashoka%22 His designed map] | |||
|- | |||
|Italian historian [[Gianni Sofri]] | |||
| [https://archive.org/details/gandhiindiacentu0000sofr/page/20/mode/1up?q=%22the+fifteenth+century%22 His designed map] | |||
|- | |||
|History Professor of Oxford University [[Harold Arthur Harris]] | |||
| [https://archive.org/details/greekathletesath00harr/page/75/mode/1up?q=%22conquered+Kalinga+and+governed%22 His designed map] | |||
|- | |||
|Pakistani popular known historian Muhammad Hussain Panhwar | |||
| [https://archive.org/details/AnIllustratedHistoricalAtlasOfSoomraKingdomByM.H.Panhwar/Six_Thousands_Years_Of_Irrigation/page/n116/mode/1up His designed map] | |||
|- | |||
|Indian Historian [[Dwijendra Narayan Jha]] | |||
| [https://archive.org/details/ancient-india-in-historical-outline-d.-n.-jha/page/96/mode/1up His designed map] | |||
|- | |||
|Linguist Dr. Aaron Ralby and University of Oklahoma professor Amanda Lomazoff | |||
| [https://archive.org/details/atlasofworldmili0000ralb/page/107/mode/1up?q=%22starved+himself%22 Their designed map] | |||
|- | |||
|History professor of Southern Methodist University, Johan Elverskog | |||
| [https://archive.org/details/buddhismandislamonthesilkroad/page/n22/mode/1up Their designed map] | |||
|- | |||
|Group of Historian, Archeologist and Historical Geographer, published by Berkshire | |||
| [https://archive.org/details/berkshire-encyclopedia-of-world-history-2nd-ed./page/316/mode/1up Their designed map] | |||
|- | |||
|[[National Geographic Maps]] | |||
| [https://m.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10158899532712910 Their designed map] | |||
|} | |} | ||