Asoka's Minor Rock Edict: the Yeragudi Copy

Summary

In this miscellany note the author revisits the minor rock edict of Emperor Aśoka preserved at Yerragudi in the Cuddapah district. By collating facsimiles and earlier readings, he proposes emendations to the text. The note points out that the Yerragudi version differs from other copies in using a middle Prakrit dialect and in addressing different officials. The revised reading clarifies that Aśoka admonishes local officers to enforce dharma (moral law), protect all sects and promote tolerance. Attention is given to the orthographic variants, such as the spelling of “lajjitaviyā” and the compound forms of “upāyasi”. The author argues that some previous translators misread sections as corrupt when they reflect legitimate phonetic alternations. The note includes a short commentary on the historical context of the edict, suggesting it dates from the twelfth or thirteenth regnal year and was intended for the western provinces. This concise contribution thus refines our understanding of Aśoka’s proclamations and underscores the importance of regional epigraphic study.