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{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2017}}{{Use Indian English|date=July 2017}}
{{Infobox book
| name = Ashokavadana<br>
अशोकावदान
| image =
| caption =
| author = possibly the Buddhist monks of [[Mathura]] region
| translator =
| country = [[Maurya Empire|Mauryan India]]
| language = [[Sanskrit]]
| series = [[Divyavadana]]
| subject = Life of King [[Ashoka]]
| genre = Historical narrative
| pub_date = possibly 2nd century [[common era]]
| english_pub_date =
| media_type =
| pages =
| isbn =
| oclc =
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}}
The '''Ashokavadana''' ({{lang-sa|अशोकावदान}}; {{IAST3|Aśokāvadāna}}; "Narrative of Ashoka") is an Indian [[Sanskrit]]-language text that describes the birth and reign of the [[Maurya Empire|Maurya]] Emperor [[Ashoka]]. It contains legends as well as historical narratives, and glorifies Ashoka as a Buddhist emperor whose only ambition was to spread [[Buddhism]] far and wide.<ref name="Kenneth2010">{{cite book | author=Kenneth Pletcher | title=The History of India | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VsujRFvaHI8C&pg=PA74 | access-date=29 November 2012 | date=15 August 2010 | publisher=The Rosen Publishing Group | isbn=978-1-61530-122-5 | page=74 }}</ref>

''Ashokavadana,'' also known as ''Ashokarajavadana,'' is one of the [[avadana]] texts contained in the [[Divyavadana]] (''Divyāvadāna'', "Divine Narrative"), an [[anthology]] of several Buddhist legends and narratives. According to [[Jean Przyluski]], the text was composed by the [[Buddhist monk]]s of the [[Mathura]] region, as it highly praises the city of Mathura, its monasteries and its monks.<ref name="Jean1923">{{cite book | author=Jean Przyluski | title=La légende de l'empereur Açoka (Açoka-Avadâna) dans les textes indiens et chinois | language = French | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jLBDAAAAYAAJ | access-date=29 November 2012 | year=1923 | publisher=1924}}</ref>{{sfn|Upinder Singh|2008|p=332}}

== Date of composition ==

There are several versions of ''Ashokavadana'', dating from 5th century CE to 16th century CE.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MJ3eCZVlT48C&pg=PA44 |title=The Art of Gandhara in the Metropolitan Museum of Art |editor=Kurt A. Behrendt |page=44 |publisher=Metropolitan Museum of Art |year=2007 |isbn=9781588392244 }}</ref> Some date the earliest finished form of the text back to 2nd century CE, although its oral origins may go back to 2nd century BCE.<ref>Coleman, Simon and John Elsner (1995), ''[https://books.google.ca/books?id=qqPtMU0QZ8sC&lpg=PA173&pg=PA173 Pilgrimage: Past and Present in the World Religions].'' Cambridge: Harvard University Press. Page 173.</ref>

The extant version of ''Ashokavadana'' is a part of ''[[Divyavadana]]'', a Sanskrit-language anthology of Buddhist legends. However, its ancient Chinese translations ''A-yu wang chuan'' (c. 300 CE), and ''A-yu wang ching'' (c. 512 CE) suggest that it once existed as an independent text.{{sfn|John S. Strong|1989|p=16}}

== Translations ==

''Ashokavadana'' was translated into [[Chinese language|Chinese]] by An Faqin (安法欽) in 300 CE as ''A-yu wang chuan'' (阿育王传, the narrative of King Ashoka), and later as ''Ayu wang ching'' ([[:zh:阿育王经]]) by [[Sanghapala]] in 512 CE.{{sfn|John S. Strong|1989|p=16}} ''A-yu wang chuan'' was translated into [[French language|French]] by Jean Przyluski{{sfn|John S. Strong|1989|p=16}} in 1923.

Annotated sections of the ''Ashokavadana'' are part of Rajendralala Mitra's (1822–91) "The Sanskrit Buddhist Literature of Nepal".<ref>Sanskrit Buddhist Literature of Nepal, Introd. Dr. Alok Ray, Sanskrit Pustak Bhandar, Calcutta 1882</ref> Mitra extensively uses the translation made by M. E. Burnouf.{{Citation needed|date=July 2019}}

An English translation of ''Ashokavadana'' by [[John S. Strong]] was published in 1983 by [[Princeton University]] ([[Princeton University Press]]).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://press.princeton.edu/titles/1998.html|title=The Legend of King Asoka|website=Princeton University Press|language=en|access-date=2019-07-01}}</ref>

== Narratives ==

=== Life of Upagupta ===

The text begins with the stories about the Buddhist monk [[Upagupta]], who eventually becomes Ashoka's spiritual teacher. It describes one of Upagupta's past lives, his present early life as the son of a perfume merchant in Mathura. It then describes his youth, including his encounters with a courtesan named Vasavadatta. Finally, it talks about his ordination as a monk and his conversion of the demon [[Mara (demon)|Mara]].{{sfn|John S. Strong|1989|p=16}}

=== Early life of Ashoka ===

[[File:TheGiftOfDirt.JPG|thumb|right|A 2nd century CE [[Gandhara art]] depicting "the gift of dirt" story]]
Next, the text describes one of Ashoka's [[reincarnation|previous births]], when he was named Jaya. It states that Jaya met [[Gautama Buddha]] as a young boy, and gave him a bowl of dirt, dreaming that the dirt is food. The Buddha then predicted that several years after his [[parinirvana]], the boy would be born as a [[Chakravartin|chakravarti]] king ruling from [[Pataliputra]].{{sfn|Upinder Singh|2008|p=332}} The text then moves to Ashoka's present life as a son of king Bindusara.{{sfn|John S. Strong|1989|p=17}}

In the text, Ashoka's father dislikes him because of his ugliness, although a fortune-teller predicts that Ashoka would become the next king.{{sfn|John S. Strong|1989|p=17}} Indeed, Ashoka kills his step-brother - the legitimate heir - by tricking him into entering a pit with live coals, and becomes the king.{{sfn|Upinder Singh|2008|p=332}} He turns out to be an oppressive and cruel ruler, becoming notorious as "Ashoka the Fierce".{{sfn|John S. Strong|1989|p=17}} He has 500 of his ministers killed, because he believes them to be not loyal enough, and has 500 women in his [[harem]] burnt to death because some of them insult him.{{sfn|Upinder Singh|2008|p=332}} He builds [[Ashoka's Hell]], where people are randomly tortured and killed. One day, he encounters a Buddhist monk, who is not troubled by any of the sufferings, and is able to perform magical feats. Impressed by the monk, Ashoka converts to Buddhism, becomes a pious man and builds 84,000 [[stupa]]s, becoming famous as "Ashoka the Righteous" (''Dharma-Ashoka'').{{sfn|John S. Strong|1989|p=17}}

=== Ashoka's Buddhist kingship ===

The text describes in detail the efforts of Ashoka towards the expansion of Buddhism: Ashoka first converts his brother [[Vitashoka]] to Buddhism, and teaches his minister Yashas to honor the Buddhist monks. Next, he meets Upagupta and goes on a [[pilgrimage]] to the holy places associated with the Gautama Buddha's life, accompanied by Upagupta. He then visits the [[Bodhi Tree]] in [[Bodh Gaya]], where the Buddha was enlightened.{{sfn|John S. Strong|1989|p=17}} Every five years, he holds a great festival to entertain Buddhist monks. During the festival, he meets [[Pindola Bharadvaja]], an [[arhat]] (enlightened saint) who personally knew the Buddha and had extended his lifespan using supernatural powers to propagate Buddha's teachings.{{sfn|John S. Strong|1989|pp=17-18}}

=== Story of Kunala ===

The text then narrates the story of Ashoka's son [[Kunala]]: the prince is a handsome and righteous man loved by his father. As a result of a plot hatched by his step-mother [[Tishyaraksha|Tisyaraksita]], Kunala is blinded while away from the royal capital. He attains enlightenment, and wanders as a beggar, earning living by singing and playing [[veena]]. He eventually returns to the capital, and meets his father.{{sfn|John S. Strong|1989|p=18}}

=== Ashoka's last days ===

The text describes Ashoka's last days as follows: Ashoka becomes terminally ill, and starts making generous donations to Buddhist monks using state funds. In order to prevent him from emptying the royal treasury, his ministers deny him access to the state funds. Ashoka then starts donating his personal wealth, but is similarly restricted from doing so. On his deathbed, his only possession is half of a [[phyllanthus emblica|myrobalan fruit]], which he offers to the Buddhist [[sangha]] (monastic community) as his final donation. He then dies with no possessions left to his name.{{sfn|John S. Strong|1989|p=18}}

Finally, the text narrates the story of king [[Pushyamitra Shunga|Pushyamitra]], whom it describes as a descendant of Ashoka. Pushyamitra persecutes Buddhist monks, thus trying to undo Ashoka's legacy.{{sfn|John S. Strong|1989|p=18}}

== Historicity ==

''Ashokavadana'' mentions two incidents of Ashoka turning towards violence after adopting Buddhism. In one instance, a non-Buddhist in [[Pundravardhana]] drew a picture showing the Buddha bowing at the feet of [[Nirgrantha Jnatiputra]] (identified with [[Mahavira]], the founder of [[Jainism]]). On complaint from a Buddhist devotee, Ashoka issued an order to arrest him, and subsequently, another order to kill all the [[Ajivika]]s in Pundravardhana. Around 18,000 followers of the Ajivika sect were executed as a result of this order.{{sfn|John S. Strong|1989|p=232}} Sometime later, another Nirgrantha follower in [[Pataliputra]] drew a similar picture. Ashoka burnt him and his entire family alive in their house.<ref name="Beni2010">{{cite book | author=Beni Madhab Barua | title=The Ajivikas | url=https://archive.org/details/ajivikas00barurich | access-date=30 October 2012 | date=5 May 2010 | publisher=General Books | isbn=978-1-152-74433-2 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/ajivikas00barurich/page/68 68]–69}}</ref> He also announced an award of one [[denarius|dinara]] (silver coin) to anyone who brought him the head of a Nirgrantha heretic. According to ''Ashokavadana'', as a result of this order, his own brother, Vitashoka, was mistaken for a heretic and killed by a cowherd. Their ministers advised him that "this is an example of the suffering that is being inflicted even on those who are free from desire" and that he "should guarantee the security of all beings". After this, Ashoka stopped giving orders for executions.{{sfn|John S. Strong|1989}} According to [[K. T. S. Sarao]] and [[Benimadhab Barua]], stories of persecutions of rival sects by Ashoka appear to be a clear fabrication arising out of sectarian propaganda.<ref name="Steven2010">{{cite book | editor=Steven L. Danver |editor-link=Steven L. Danver | title=Popular Controversies in World History: Investigating History's Intriguing Questions: Investigating History's Intriguing Questions | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=slVobUjdzGMC&pg=RA1-PA99 | access-date=23 May 2013 | date=22 December 2010 | publisher=ABC-CLIO | isbn=978-1-59884-078-0 | pages=99}}</ref><ref name="LePhuoc2010">{{cite book | author=Le Phuoc | title=Buddhist Architecture | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9jb364g4BvoC&pg=PA32 | access-date=23 May 2013 | date=March 2010 | publisher=Grafikol | isbn=978-0-9844043-0-8 | pages=32}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | author=Benimadhab Barua | author-link=Benimadhab Barua | title=The Ajivikas | url=https://archive.org/details/ajivikas00barurich | access-date=30 October 2012 | date=5 May 2010 | publisher=[[University of Calcutta]] | isbn=978-1-152-74433-2 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/ajivikas00barurich/page/68 68]–69}}</ref>

=== Description of Pushyamitra ===

The ''Ashokavadana'' ends with the story of [[Pushyamitra Shunga|Pushyamitra]] (185–151 BCE), the [[Shunga Empire|Shunga]] king whose rule succeeded the Mauryan empire.{{sfn|John S. Strong|1989|p=293}} However, the text wrongly mentions him as a member of the Maurya family.<ref>{{cite book |author=Nayanjot Lahiri |title=Ashoka in Ancient India |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JaVRCgAAQBAJ&pg=PT362 |year=2015 |publisher=Harvard University Press |isbn=978-0-674-91525-1 |page=362 }}</ref> It has often been quoted for its disparaging description of Pushyamitra as an enemy of the Buddhist faith, which before him had been officially supported by the Mauryan empire:{{sfn|John S. Strong|1989|p=293}}

{{quote|... Pushyamitra equipped a fourfold army, and intending to destroy the Buddhist religion, he went to the [[Kukkutarama]]. ... Pushyamitra therefore destroyed the [[sangharama]], killed the monks there, and departed. ... After some time, he arrived in [[Sagala|Sakala]], and proclaimed that he would give a ... reward to whoever brought him the head of a Buddhist monk.}}

Like other portions of the text, these accounts are regarded by many historians as being exaggerated.<ref name="Jayantanuja2007">{{cite book | author=Jayantanuja Bandyopadhyaya | title=Class and Religion in Ancient India | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gwUF11NRyT4C&pg=PA209 | access-date=29 November 2012 | year=2007 | publisher=Anthem Press | isbn=978-1-84331-727-2 | page=209}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Bibliography ==
{{ref begin}}
* {{cite book | author=John S. Strong | author-link = John S. Strong | title=The Legend of King Aśoka: A Study and Translation of the Aśokāvadāna | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Kp9uaQTQ8h8C&pg=PA232 | access-date=30 October 2012 | year=1989 | publisher=[[Motilal Banarsidass]] | isbn=978-81-208-0616-0 }}
* {{cite book |author=Upinder Singh |title=A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India: From the Stone Age to the 12th Century |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=H3lUIIYxWkEC&pg=PA332 |year=2008 | publisher=Pearson Education India |isbn=978-81-317-1120-0 }}
{{ref end}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20050225123848/http://sanskrit.gde.to/all_sa/ashoka_sa.html Sanskrit version of the ''Ashokavadana'']

{{Buddhism topics}}

[[Category:Maurya Empire]]
[[Category:History books about India]]
[[Category:Indian biographies]]
[[Category:Early Buddhist texts]]
[[Category:2nd-century Indian books]]
[[Category:Memorials to Ashoka]]
[[Category:Sanskrit books]]

Ashokavadana - Revision history

>Citation bot at 19:23, 8 April 2021