[2] Chronologically they follow the fall of Seleucid power in Central Asia and the related rise of the Parthian Empire and the independent Greco-Bactrian Kingdom c. 250 BCE, and Hellenistic rulers are not mentioned anymore in these last edicts.

Ashoka was the third monarch of the Maurya Empire in the Indian subcontinent, reigning from around 269 BCE.

Although he was a major historical figure, little definitive information was known as there were few records of his reign until the 19th century when a large number of his edicts, inscribed on rocks and pillars, were found in modern-day India, Nepal, Pakistan and Afghanistan.

These many edicts were concerned with practical instructions in running a kingdom such as the design of irrigation systems and descriptions of Ashoka's beliefs in peaceful moral behavior.

These pillar edicts include:[1] Major Pillar Edict I Asoka's principle of protection of the people Major Pillar Edict II Defines dhamma as a minimum of sins, many virtues, compassion, liberality, truthfulness and purity Major Pillar Edict III Preach to avoid practices of harshness, cruelty, anger, pride and other sins among the subjects Major Pillar Edict IV Prescribe duties and responsibilities of Rajukas, who would go every five years to different parts of empire to spread Dhamma Major Pillar Edict V A list of animals and birds which should not be killed on certain days, and another list of animals which have not to be killed at all occasions.

[6] This title also appears in Greek in the Kandahar Bilingual Rock Inscription, when naming the author of the proclamation as βασιλεὺς Πιοδασσης ("King Piyodasses"), and in Aramaic in the same inscription as "our lord, king Priyadasin".

[6] Christopher Beckwith has suggested that "Priyadarsi" was a king in his own right, probably the son of Chandragupta Maurya known to the Greeks as Amitrochates, and Ashoka was either a Buddhist legend or a much later king who authored the Buddhist Minor Rock Edicts around the 1st century CE.

[6] Conversely, the Major Pillar Edicts in the name of King Priyadasi do not have a clear Buddhist character, being mainly codes of conduct gathered under the name of "Dharma" (translated as Eusebeia ("Piety") in Greek and "Truth" in Aramaic in the Kandahar Bilingual Rock Inscription), and never mentioning Buddhism, the Buddha or the Samgha (except for Edict no 7 which mentions the Samgha, but the authenticity of which has been doubted by Christopher Beckwith).

The Major Pillar Edicts (excluding the two fragments of translations found in modern Afghanistan) are all located in the Gangetic Plain, in contrast with the Major Rock Edicts, which appear exclusively at the borders of the Maurya Empire.

This rescript on morality was caused to be written by me (when I had been) anointed twenty-six years.

And my agents also, both the high ones and the low ones and those of middle rank, are conforming to and practising (morality), (and are thus) able to stir up fickle (persons).

Defines dhamma as a minimum of sins, many virtues, compassion, liberality, truthfulness and purity.

(It includes) few sins, many virtuous deeds, compassion, liberality, truthfulness, (and) purity.

On bipeds and quadrupeds, on birds and aquatic animals various benefits have been conferred by me, (even) to the boon of life.

This rescript on morality was caused to be written by me (when I had been) anointed twenty-six years.

And my order (reaches) even so far (that) a respite of three days is granted by me to persons lying in prison on whom punishment has been passed, (and) who have been condemned to death.

parrots, mainas, the aruna, ruddy geese, wild geese, the nandimukha, the gelata, bats, queen-ants, terrapins, boneless fish, the vedaveyaka, the Ganga-puputaka, skate-fish, tortoises and porcupines, squirrels (?

Fish are inviolable, and must not be sold, on the three Chaturmasis (and) on the Tishya full-moon during three days, (viz.)

And during these same days also no other classes of animals which are in the elephant-park (and) in the preserves of the fishermen, must be killed.

Until (I had been) anointed twenty-six years, in this period the release of prisoners was ordered by me twenty-five (times).

(When I had been) anointed twenty-six years, this rescript on morality was caused to be written by me.

This edict only appears on the Delhi-Topra pillar, at the fortress of Feroz Shah Kotla in New Delhi.

On one hand, in times past kings had this desire, that men might (be made to) progress by an adequate promotion of morality; (but) on the other hand, men were not made to progress by an adequate promotion of morality.

The Lajukas also, who are occupied with many hundred thousands of men, —these too were ordered by me: "In such and such a manner exhort ye the people who are devoted to morality".

Numerous drinking-places were caused to be established by me, here and there, for the enjoyment of cattle and men.

Both these and many other chief (officers) are occupied with the delivery of the gifts of myself as well as of the queens, and among my whole harem [they are reporting] in divers ways different worthy recipients of charity both here and in the provinces.

compassion, liberality, truthfulness, purity, gentleness, and goodness, will thus be promoted among men.

Thereby they have been made to progress and will (be made to) progress in obedience to mother and father, in obedience to elders, in courtesy to the aged, in courtesy to Brahmanas and Sramanas, to the poor and distressed, (and) even to slaves and servants.

This rescript on morality was caused to be written by me (when I had been) anointed twenty-seven years.

The authenticity of the 7th Edict is generally not disputed, but Christopher Beckwith has challenged it, and he suggests it is a later inscription, possibly made as late as the 5th century CE, when the old Brahmi script had not yet evolved much, and was still readable for any literate person.