SSC
Which inscription of Ashoka mentions specific Buddhist texts and expresses his faith in the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Sangha?
Answer (Detailed Solution Below)View answer ▾Hide ▴
Answer: Option C — Bhabru (Calcutta-Bairat) inscription
Detailed Solution
The Bhabru inscription, a minor rock edict of Ashoka found near Bairat in Rajasthan, mentions specific Buddhist texts and clearly expresses Ashoka's faith in Buddhism.
About the Bhabru inscription:
- It was found in 1837 near Bairat, in present-day Rajasthan, by Captain Burt.
- It was later moved to Kolkata, where it is kept in the Asiatic Society; it is therefore also called the "Calcutta-Bairat" inscription.
- It is addressed to the Buddhist Sangha (monks and nuns).
- In it, Ashoka calls himself "Priyadasi, King of Magadha".
- He expresses his deep respect and faith in the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Sangha (the "three jewels" of Buddhism).
- He says that whatever has been spoken by the Buddha is well spoken.
- He recommends seven Buddhist texts (passages) that monks, nuns and lay followers should listen to and reflect upon, so that the true Dhamma may last long.
Importance:
- It is the clearest evidence among Ashoka's inscriptions that he was personally a follower of Buddhism.
- Most of his other edicts speak of "Dhamma" in a general moral sense, acceptable to all religions.
- It helps scholars understand which Buddhist teachings were considered important at that time.
Other important Ashokan inscriptions:
- Nigali Sagar pillar (Nepal): mentions his enlargement of the stupa of an earlier Buddha (Konakamana).
- Schism Edict (Sarnath, Sanchi, Kaushambi): warns against creating divisions in the Sangha.
- Kandahar inscription (Afghanistan).
- Girnar rock edict: a set of Major Rock Edicts.
Why not the other options?
- ✗The Rummindei inscription is a pillar inscription in Nepal.
- ✗The Kandahar inscription is in Afghanistan.
- ✗The Girnar rock edict contains the Major Rock Edicts.
Quick tip
Remember: Bhabru (Calcutta-Bairat) edict = Ashoka's faith in Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha + seven recommended Buddhist texts; kept in the Asiatic Society, Kolkata.
💬 Discussions on this question
Ask a doubt ›Still stuck on this question? Ask our faculty and fellow students — answers appear here.
Ask a doubtMore Mahajanapadas & Mauryan Empire Questions
View all ›- Q1.How many Mahajanapadas are mentioned in ancient Buddhist and Jain texts?
- Q2.What was the capital of the Vajji Mahajanapada?
- Q3.Bimbisara is considered the main founder of which dynasty of Magadha?
- Q4.The book 'Indica', describing India in the time of Chandragupta Maurya, was written by:
- Q5.Ashoka's conquest of Kalinga and his remorse after the war are described in which of his edicts?
More General Knowledge Questions
- Q1.The techniques of Rasa and Bhava used in Indian classical dance trace their origin to which ancient text?Indian Dance Forms
- Q2.Lavani, Powada, Koli, Waghya Murali and Dhangari Gaja are folk dances of which state?Indian Dance Forms
- Q3.The one-act play associated with the Sattriya tradition of Assam is called:Indian Dance Forms
- Q4.Which dance form of Goa is known as the 'Warrior Dance'?Indian Dance Forms
- Q5.Manipuri dance is based on the Rasleela themes of:Indian Dance Forms
Mahajanapadas & Mauryan Empire — Preparation
This question tests your understanding of Mahajanapadas & Mauryan Empire, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.
This topic covers the sixteen Mahajanapadas, the rise of Magadha under the Haryanka, Shishunaga and Nanda dynasties, Alexander's invasion, and the Mauryan Empire under Chandragupta Maurya, Bindusara and Ashoka, including Mauryan administration, Ashoka's dhamma and his edicts. Questions often ask about the capital of a Mahajanapada, the founder of a dynasty, or details of Ashoka's rule, such as the Kalinga war and his rock and pillar edicts. Key sources include Kautilya's Arthashastra and Megasthenes' Indica. James Prinsep first deciphered Ashoka's Brahmi inscriptions in 1837. Practise the Mahajanapadas and Mauryan Empire questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.