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| On the main Raja Dhirshain Marg, near the Srinivaspuri
locality is the famous engraved tilted rock-face of the Ashokan
period, popularly known as Ashokan Rock Edict. Discovered in
1966, the centuries old rock-edict is testimony to the fact
that Delhi was an important area even in the time of the Mauryan
Emperor Ashoka (273-232 BC). Apart from being a major town,
Delhi was also an important junction on the commercial route
connecting the major provincial capitals and towns in North
India. |
| The epigraph of the rock-edict consists of ten-lines
in the Brahmi script and Prakrit language. Though the writing
has worn out but according to the historians it is one of the
versions of the emperor's Minor Rock Edicts. It states Ashoka's
appeal to his subjects to live a pious life of righteousness,
irrespective of their status and position, in order to attain
enlightenment. The edict informs the reader that due to the
constant efforts of the emperor and his strong belief in dhamma
(righteousness), the people of his kingdom (Jhambudvipa) has
come closer to the gods. |
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