Vivutha = Vyitha = Vyutha
By Dineshchandra Sircar
Summary
This short philological note discusses the term vivutha (also written vyitha or vyutha) found near the end of Ashoka’s Minor Rock Edict I. Different regional versions of the edict preserve variant spellings—vivuthena, vyuthena and vyathena—leading to divergent translations. Earlier scholars glossed the word as meaning "camped" or "spent the night." Comparing inscriptions from Sahasram, Rupnath, Brahmagiri and other sites, the author suggests that the correct reading is vyutha, derived from a root meaning to spread out or to be separated. In context, the phrase dvi‑satapancha‑sat‑ratrishata‑vyuthena likely refers to the emperor having spent hundreds of nights away from the capital while travelling. Recognising the preferred reading clarifies the sense of Ashoka’s statement about the hardships he endured in propagating Dhamma. The note underscores how minor orthographic differences can affect interpretation and emphasises the need to examine multiple inscriptional versions when analysing ancient texts.
Conclusion
By collating variant spellings across several inscriptions, the note concludes that the term in Ashoka’s edict should be read as vyutha, meaning "spent nights away," rather than alternative interpretations. This clarification refines our understanding of Ashoka’s itinerant activities and demonstrates the importance of meticulous philological comparison in epigraphic studies.