मौर्य काल

panne ki pragati avastha

panne ki pragati avastha

adhar

prarambhik

madhyamik

poornata

shodh

mauryakal eesa poorv 326 mean sikandar ki senaean panjab ke vibhinn rajyoan mean vidhvansak yuddhoan mean vyast thian. madhyapradesh aur bihar mean nand vansh ka raja dhananand shasan kar raha tha. sikandar ke akraman se desh ke lie sankat paida ho gaya tha. dhananand ka saubhagy tha ki vah is akraman se bach gaya. yah kahana kathin hai ki desh ki raksha ka mauqa p dane par nand samrat yoonaniyoan ko pichhe hatane mean samarth hota ya nahian. magadh ke shasak ke pas vishal sena avashy thi kintu janata ka sahayog use prapt nahian tha. praja usake atyacharoan se pi dit thi. asahy kar-bhar ke karan rajy ke log usase asantusht the. desh ko is samay ek aise vyakti ki avashyakata thi jo magadh samrajy ki raksha tatha vriddhi kar sake. videshi akraman se utpann sankat ko door karane aur desh ke vibhinn bhagoan ko ek shasan-sootr mean baandhakar chakravarti samrat ke adarsh ko charitarth kare. shighr hi rajanitik manch par ek aisa vyakti prakat bhi hua. is vyakti ka nam tha 'chandragupt'. jastin adi yoonani vidvanoan mean ise sendrokottas ki pahachan bharatiy granthoan ke chandr gupt se ki hai. yah pahachan bharatiy itihas ke tithikram ki adharashila ban gee hai. chandragupt ke vansh aur jati ke sambandh mean vidvan ekamat nahian haian. kuchh vidvanoan ne brahman granthoan, mudrarakshas, vishnupuran ki madhyakalin tika tatha 10vian shatabdi ki dhundiraj dvara rachit mudrarakshas ki tika ke adhar par chandragupt ko shoodr mana hai. chandragupt ke vansh ke sambandh mean brahman, bauddh evan jain paramparaoan v anushrutiyoan ke adhar par keval itana hi kaha ja sakata hai ki vah kisi kulin gharane se sambandhit nahian tha. videshi vrittaantoan evan ullekhoan se bhi sthiti kuchh aspasht hi bani rahati hai. chandragupt ke vansh ke saman usake arambhik jivan ke punargathan ka bhi adhar kianvadantiyaan evan paramparaean hi adhik haian aur thos praman kam haian. is sambandh mean chanaky chandragupt katha ka saraansh ullekhaniy hai. jisake anusar nand vansh dvara apamanit kie jane par chanaky ne use samool nasht karane ka pran kiya. sanyogavash usaki bheant chandragupt se ho gee aur vah use takshashila le gaya. kaha jata hai ki uttar-pashchimi bharat mean hi chanaky ki sikandar se bheant huee thi. shiksha-diksha ke pashchath chanaky ki kootaniti aur chandragupt ke shaury evan ranakaushal ke sangam dvara nand vansh ke antim raja dhananand ka unmoolan kiya gaya. isase pahale hi chandragupt ne panjab aur siandh mean bhi sikandar ke videshi shasan se aprasann janata ke manobhavoan ka labh uthakar un kshetroan mean apana adhikar sthapit karane mean saphalata papt kar li thi. maury samrat chandragupt ko nand vansh ke unmoolan tatha panjab-siandh mean videshi shasan ka aant karane ka hi shrey nahian hai varanh usane bharat ke adhikaansh bhag par apana adhipaty sthapit kiya. plootark ne likha hai ki chandragupt ne 6 lakh sena lekar samooche bharat par apana adhipaty sthapit kiya. jastin ke anusar sara bharat usake qabze mean tha. mahavansh mean kaha gaya hai ki kautily ne chandragupt ko janboodvip ka samrat banaya. plini ne—jisaka vrittant mangasthaniz ki iandika par adharit hai—likha hai ki magadh ki sima siandhoo nadi hai. pashchim mean saurashtr chandragupt ke adhikar mean tha. isaki pushti shak mahakshatrap rudradaman ke joonagadh abhilekh se hoti hai. maisoor se prapt kuchh shilalekhoan ke anusar uttari maisoor mean chandragupt ka shasan tha. ek abhilekh mila hai jisake anusar shikapur talluke ke nagarakhand ki raksha mauryoan ke zimme thi. yah ullekh 14vian shatabdi ka hai. ashok ke shilalekhoan se bhi spasht hai ki maisoor maury samrajy ka mahatvapoorn aang tha. plootark, jastin, tamil granthoan tatha maisoor ke abhilekhoan ke sammilit pramanoan se spasht hai ki pratham maury samrat ne vidhy par ke kafi bharatiy hissoan ko apane samrajy mean mila liya tha. jis samay chandragupt maury samrajy ke nirman mean tatpar tha, sikandar ka senapati selyookas apani mahanata ki nianv dal raha tha. sikandar ki mrityu ke bad usake senaniyoan mean yoonani samrajy ki satta ke lie sangharsh hua. jisake parinamasvaroop selyookas, pashchim eshiya mean prabhutv ke mamale mean, aintigonas ka pratidvandvi bana. ee0 poo0 312 mean usane bebilon par apana adhikar sthapit kiya. isake bad usane eeran ke vibhinn rajyoan ko jitakar baiktriya par adhikar kiya. apane poorvi abhiyan ke dauran vah bharat ki badha. ee0 poo0 305-4 mean kabul ke marg se hote hue vah siandhu nadi ki or badha. usane siandhu nadi par ki aur chandragupt ki sena se usaka samana hua. selyookas panjab aur siandhu par apana prabhutv punah sthapit karane ke uddeshy se aya tha. kintu is samay ki rajanitik sthiti sikandar ke akraman ke samay se kafi bhinn thi. panjab aur siandhu ab paraspar yuddh karane vale chhote-chhote rajyoan mean vibhikt nahian the, balki ek samrajy ka aang the. ashchary ki bat hai ki yoonani tatha romi lekhak, selyookar aur chandragupt ke bich hue yuddh ka koee vistrit byaura nahian dete. keval eppiyanas ne likha hai ki "selyookas ne siandhu nadi par ki aur bharat ke samrat chandragupt se yuddh chhe da. aant mean unamean sandhi ho gee aur vaivahik sambandh sthapit ho gaya." jastin ke anusar chandragupt se sandhi karake aur apane poorvi rajy ko shant karake selyookas entigonas se yuddh karane chala gaya. eppiyanas ke kathan se spasht hai ki selyookas chandragupt ke viruddh saphalata prapt nahian kar saka. apane poorvi rajy ki suraksha ke lie selyookas ne chandragupt se sandhi karana hi uchit samajha aur us sandhi ko usane vaivahik sambandh se aur adhik pusht kar liya. straibo ka kathan hai ki selyookas ne airiyana ke pradesh, chandragupt ko vivah-sambandh ke phalasvaroop die. isase yah nishkarsh nikalata hai ki yoonani rajakumari maury samrat ko byahi gee aur ye pradesh ke roop mean die ge. itihasakaroan ka amataur par yah mat hai ki selyookas nan chandragupt ko char prant—eriya, arakosiya, jedrosiya aur paripemisadaee (arthath kabul, kandhar, makaran aur herat pradesh) dahej mean die. ashok ke lekhoan se siddh hota hai ki kabul ki ghati maury samrajy ke aantargat thi. in abhilekhoan ke anusar yon (yavan) gaandhar bhi maury samrajy ke aantargat the. plootark ke anusar chandragupt ne selyookas ko 500 hathi upahar mean die. sambhavatah is sandhi ke parinamasvaroop hi hindukush maury samrajy aur selyookas ke rajy ke bich ki sima ban gaya. 2000 se adhik varsh poorv bharat ke pratham samrat ne us prakritik sima ko prapt kiya jisake lie aangrez tarasate rahe aur jise mugal samrat bhi poori tarah prapt karane mean asamarth rahe. vaivahik sambandh se maury samratoan aur selyookas vansh ke rajaoan ke bich maitripoorn sambandh sootrapat hua. selyookas ne apane rajadoot megasthaniz ko chandragupt ke darabar mean bheja. ye maitri sambandh donoan ke uttaradhikariyoan ke bich bhi bane rahe. chandragupt ek kushal yoddha, senanayak tatha mahanh vijeta hi nahian tha, varanh ek yogy shasak bhi tha. itane b de samrajy ki shasan—vyavastha koee saral kary nahian tha. atah apane mukhy mantri kautily ki sahayata se usane ek aisi shasan—vyavastha ka nirman kiya jo us samay ke anukool thi. maury shasan paddhati ka vistrit vivechan age kiya jaega. yah shasan vyavastha ek had tak magadh ke poorvagami shasakoan dvara vikasit shasanatantr par adharit thi. kintu isaka adhik shrey chandragupt aur kautily ki srijanatmak kshamata ko hi diya jana chahie. kautily ne likha hai ki us samay shasan tantr par jo bhi granth upalabdh the aur bhinn-bhinn rajyoan mean shasan—pranaliyaan prachalit thian un sabaka bhali-bhaanti adhyayan karane ke bad usane apana prasiddh granth "arthashastr" likha. vidvanoan ka vichar hai ki maury shasan vyavastha par tatkalin yoonani tatha akhamini shasan pranali ka bhi kuchh prabhav p da—is par bhi age vichar kiya jaega. yahaan par sankshep mean itana ullekh kafi hoga ki chandragupt ne aisi shasan vyavastha sthapit ki jise paravarti bharatiy shasakoan ne bhi apanaya. is shasan ki mukhy visheshataean thian—satta ka atyadhik kendrikaran, vikasit adhikarik tantr, uchit nyay vyavastha, nagar-shasan, krishi, shilp udyog, sanchar, vanijy evan vyapar ki vriddhi ke lie rajy ke dvara anek karagar upay. chandragupt ke shasan prabandh ka uddeshy lokahit tha. jahaan ek or arthik vikas evan rajy ki samriddhi ke anek thos qadam uthae ge aur shilpiyoan evan vyapariyoan ke jan—mal ki suraksha ki gee, vahian doosari or janata ko unaki anuchit tatha shoshanatmak kary-vidhiyoan se bachane ke lie kathor niyam bhi banae ge. dasoan aur karmakaroan ko malikoan ke atyachar se bachane ke lie vistrit niyam the. anath, daridr, mrit sainikoan tatha rajakarmachariyoan ke parivaroan ke bharan—poshan ka bhar rajy ke oopar tha. tatkalin mapadand ke anusar chandragupt ka shasan—prabandh ek kalyanakari rajy ki dharana ko charitarth karata hai. ham dekheange ki yah shasan nirakuansh tha, dand vyavastha kathor thi aur vyakti ki svatantrata ka sarvatha abhav tha. kintu yah sab navazat samrajy ki suraksha tatha praja ke hitoan ko dhyan mean rakhakar kiya gaya tha. chandragupt ki shasan vyavastha ko charam lakshy arthashastr ke nimn uddharan se vyakt hota hai— "praja ke sukh mean hi raja ka sukh hai aur praja ki bhalaee mean usaki bhalaee. raja ko jo achchha lage vah hitakar nahian hai, varanh hitakar vah hai jo praja ko achchha lage." uparyukt uddharan se spasht hai ki kautily ne raja ke samaksh prajahitaishi raja ka adarsh rakha. chandragupt dharm mean bhi ruchi rakhata tha. yoonani lekhakoan ke anusar jin char avasaroan par raja mahal se bahar jata tha, unamean ek tha yajn karana. kautily usaka purohit tatha mukhy mantri tha. hemachandr ne bhi likha hai ki vah brahmanoan ka adar karata hai. megasthaniz ne likha hai ki chandragupt van mean rahane vale tapasviyoan se paramarsh karata tha aur unhean devataoan ki pooja ke lie niyukt karata tha. varsh mean ek bar vidvanoan (brahmanoan) ki sabhi bulaee jati thi taki ve janahit ke lie uchit paramarsh de sakean. darshanikoan se sampark rakhana chandragupt ki jijnasu pravritti ka soochak hai. jain anuyayiyoan ke anusar jivan ke antim charan mean chandragupt ne jain dharm svikar kar liya. kaha jata hai ki jab magadh mean 12 varsh ka durbhiksh p da to chandragupt rajy tyagakar jain achary bhadrabahu ke sath shravan belgola (maisoor ke nikat) chala gaya aur ek sachche jain bhikshu ki bhaanti usane nirahar samadhisth hokar pranatyag kiya (arthat kevaly prapt kiya). 900 ee0 ke bad ke anek abhilekh bhadrabahu aur chandragupt ka ek sath ullekh karate haian.   bindusar—chandragupt ki mrityu ke pashchath usaka putr bindusar samrat bana. yoonani lekhoan ke anusar usaka nam amitrakete tha. vidvanoan ke anusar amitrakete ka sanskrit roop hai amitraghat ya amitrakhad (shatruoan ka nash karane vala). sambhavatah yah bindusar ka viruddh raha hoga. tibbati lama taranath tatha jain anushruti ke anusar chanaky bindusar ka bhi mantri raha. chanaky ne 16 rajy ke rajaoan aur samantoan ka nash kiya aur bindusar ko poorvi samudr se pashchimi samudr paryant bhoo-bhag ka adhish banaya. ho sakata hai ki chandragupt ki mrityu ke pashchat kuchh rajyoan ne maury satta ke viruddh vidroh kiya ho. chanaky ne saphalatapoorvak unaka daman kiya. divyavaradan mean uttarapath ki rajadhani takshashila mean aise hi vidroh ka ullekh hai. is vidroh ko shant karane ke lie bindusar ne apane putr ashok ko bheja tha. isake pashchat ashok svas desh gaya. svas sambhavatah nepal ke as-pas ke pradesh ke khas rahe hoange. taranath ke anusar khasya aur nepal ke logoan ne vidroh kiya aur ashok ne in pradeshoan ko jita. videshoan ke sath ashok ne shanti aur maitripoorn sambandh banae rakha. selyookas vansh ke rajaoan tatha any yoonani shasakoan ke sath chandragupt ke samay ke sambandh bane rahe. staivo ke anusar selyookas ke uttaradhikari entiyokas pratham ne apana rajadoot dayamekas bindusar ke darabar mean bheja. plini ke anusar tolami dvitiy philedelphas ne dayoniyas ko bindusar ke darabar mean niyukt kiya. apane pita ki bhaanti bindusar bhi jijnasu tha aur vidvanoan tatha darshanikoan ka adar karata tha. aitheniyas ke anusar bindusar ne entiyokas (siriya ka shasak) ko ek yoonani darshanik bhejane ke lie likha tha. divyavadan ki ek katha ke anusar ajivak parivrajak bindusar ki sabha ko sushobhit karate the. puranoan ke anusar bindusar ne 24 varsh tak, kintu mahavansh ke anusar 27 varsh tak rajy kiya. da0 radha mukud mukarji ne bindusar ki mrityu tithi eesa poorv 272 nirdharit ki hai. kuchh any vidvan yah manate haian ki bindusar ki mrityu eesa poorv 270 mean huee. ashok bindusar ki mrityu ke bad ashok raja hua. ashok ke sambandh mean janakari prapt karane mean pramukh sadhan usake shilalekh tatha stanbhoan par utkirn abhilekh haian. kintu ye abhilekh ashok ke prarambhik jivan par koee prakash nahian dalate. inake lie hamean sanskrit tatha pali mean likhe hue bauddh granthoan par nirbhar rahana p data hai. paramparanusar ashok ne apane bhaiyoan ka hanan karake sianhasan prapt kiya tha. apane rajyabhishek ke navean varsh tak ashok ne maury samrajy ki paramparagat niti ka hi anusaran kiya. ashok ne desh ke andar samrajy vistar kiya kintu doosare deshoan ke sath maitripoorn vyavahar ki niti apanaee. bharat ke andar ashok ek vijeta raha. oopar ullekh kiya ja chuka hai ki usane khas, nepal ko vijit kiya aur takshashila ke vidroh ka shant kiya. apane rajyabhishek ke navean varsh mean ashok ne kaliang par vijay prapt ki. aisa pratit hota hai ki nand vansh ke patan ke bad kaliang svatantr ho gaya tha. plini ki pustak mean uddhat megasthaniz ke vivaran ke anusar chandragupt ke samay mean kaliang ek svatantr rajy tha. ashok ke shilalekh ke anusar yuddh mean mare ge tatha qaid kie hue sipahiyoan ki sankhya dhaee lakh thi aur isase bhi kee gune sipahi yuddh mean ghayal hue the. magadh ki simaoan se ju de hue aise shaktishali rajy ki sthiti ke prati magadh shasak udasin nahian rah sakata tha. kharavel ke samay magadh ko kaliang ki shakti ka katu anubhav tha. suraksha ki drishti se kaliang ka jitana avashyak tha. kuchh itihasakaroan ke anusar kaliang ko jitane ka doosara karan bhi tha. dakshin ke sath sidhe sampark ke lie samudri aur sthal marg par mauryoan ka niyantran avashyak tha. kaliang yadi svatantr desh rahata to samudri aur sthal marg se hone vale vyapar mean rukavat p d sakati thi. atah kaliang ko magadh samrajy mean milana avashyak tha. kintu yah koee prabal karan pratit nahian hota kyoanki is drishti se to chandragupt ke samay se hi kaliang ko magadh samrajy mean mila lena chahie tha. kautily ke vivaran se spasht hai ki vah dakshin ke sath vyapar ka mahatv deta tha. vijit kaliang rajy magadh samrajy ka ek aang ho gaya. rajavansh ka koee rajakumar vahaan vaisaray (uparaja) niyukt kar diya gaya. tosali is prant ki rajadhani banaee gee. kaliang yuddh mean hue narasanhar tatha vijit desh ki janata ke kasht se ashok ki aantaratma ko tivr aghat pahuancha. yuddh ki bhishanata ka ashok par gahara prabhav p da. ashok ne yuddh ki niti ko sada ke lie tyag diya aur 'digvijay' ke sthan par 'dhamm vijay' ki niti ko apanaya. da0 hemachandr rayachaudhari ke anusar magadh ka samrat banane ke bad yah ashok ka pratham tatha antim yuddh tha. isake bad magadh ki vijayoan tatha rajy-vistar ka yah yug samapt hua jisaka sootrapat bianbisar ki aang vijay ke bad hua tha. ab ek ne yug arambh hua. yah yug shanti, samajik pragati tatha dharmaprachar ka tha, kintu isake sath-sath rajanitik gatirodh aur samarik kushalata bhi dikhaee dene lagi. sainik abhyas ke abhav mean magadh ka samarik avesh aur utsah kshin hone laga. kaliang ki praja tatha kaliang ki sima par rahane vale logoan ke prati kaisa vyavahar kiya je, is sambandh mean ashok ne do adesh jari kie. ye do adesh dhauli aur jaug d namak sthanoan par surakshit haian. ye adesh tosali aur samasa ke mahamatyoan tatha uchch adhikariyoan ko sambodhit karate hue likhe ge haian—samrat ka adesh hai ki praja ke sath putravath vyavahar ho, janata ko pyar kiya jae, akaran logoan ko karavas ka dand tatha yatana n di jae. janata ke sath nyay kiya jana chahie. simaant jatiyoan ko ashvasan diya gaya ki unhean samrat se koee bhay nahian karana chahie. unhean raja ke sath vyavahar karane se sukh hi milega, kasht nahian. raja yathashakti unhean kshama karega, ve dhamm ka palan karean. yahaan par unhean sukh milega aur mrityu ke bad svarg. ashok ke shilalekhoan tatha stanbhalekhoan se ashok ke samrajy ki sima ki thik janakari prapt hoti hai. shila tatha stanbhalekhoan ke vivaran se hi nahian, varanh jahaan se abhilekh pae ge haian, un sthanoan ki sthiti se bhi sima nirdharan karane mean sahayata milati hai. in abhilekhoan mean janata ke lie raja ki ghoshanaean thian. atah ve ashok ke vibhinn prantoan mean abadi ke mukhy kendroan mean utkirn karae ge. kuchh abhilekh simaant sthanoan par pae jate haian. uttar—pashchim mean shahabazagadhi aur mansera mean ashok ke shilalekh pae ge. isake atirikt takshashila mean aur qabul pradesh mean lamagan mean ashok ke lekh aramaik lipi mean milate haian. ek shilalekh mean entiyokas dvitiy thiyos ko p dosi raja kaha gaya hai. isase spasht hai ki uttar-pashchim mean ashok ke samrajy ki sima hindukush tak thi. kalasi, rumideee tatha nigali sagar shilalekh tatha stanbhalekhoan se siddh hota hai ki deharadoon aur nepal ki taraee ka kshetr ashok ke rajy mean tha. saranath tatha nepal ki vanshavaliyoan ke praman tatha smarakoan se yah siddh hota hai ki nepal ashok ke samrajy ka ek aang tha. ham anyatr kah chuke haian ki jab ashok yuvaraj tha, usane khas aur nepal pradesh ko jita tha. poorv mean bangal tak maury samrajy ke vistrit hone ki pushti mahasthan shilalekh se hoti hai. yah abhilekh brahmi lipi mean hai aur maury kal ka mana jata hai. mahavansh ke anusar ashok apane putr ko vida karane ke lie tamralipti tak aya tha. hyoonatsaang ko bhi tamralipti, karnasuvarn, samatat, poorvi bangal tatha pundravardhan mean ashok ke stoop dekhane ko mile the. divyavadan mean kaha gaya hai ki ashok ke samay tak bangal magadh samrajy ka hi ek aang tha. asam kadachith maury samrajy se bahar tha. vahaan par ashok ke koee smarak chini yatri ko dekhane ko nahian mile. u disa aur ganzam se lekar pashchim mean saurashtr tatha maharashtr tak ashok ka shasan tha. dhauli aur jaug d mean ashok ke shilalekh mile haian, sath hi saurashtr mean joonagadh aur aparant mean banbee ke pas sopara namak sthan ke pas bhi shilalekh mile haian. dakshin mean yerraguddi, karnool zile mean ashok ke shilalekh mile haian. isake atirikt uttari maisoor ke chittaladrug ilake ke tin sthanoan—siddhapur, maski tatha jatiang rameshvar mean ashok ke laghu shilalekh mile haian. ashok ke shilalekhoan mean chol, paandy aur keral rajyoan ko svantatr simavarti rajay kaha gaya hai. jisase spasht hai ki sudoor dakshin bharat ashok ke samrajy se bahar tha. is prakar ham dekhate haian ki asam aur sudoor dakshin ko chho dakar sampoorn bharatavarsh ashok ke samrajy ke aantargat tha. yadyapi ashok ka samrajy vistrit tha tathapi samrajy ke aantargat sabhi deshoan par usaka sidha shasan tha. ashok ke paanchave aur terahavean shilalekh mean kuchh janapadoan tatha jatiyoan ka ullekh kiya gaya hai. jaise yavan, kamboj, nabhak, nabhapankti, bhoj, pettanik, andhr, puliand. repsan ka vichar hai ki ye desh tatha jatiyaan ashok dvara jite ge rajy ke aantargat n hokar prabhavakshetr mean the. kintu yah sahi pratit nahian hota hai. kyoanki in pradeshoan mean ashok ke dharm mahamatroan ke niyukt kie jane ka ullekh hai. da0 rayachaudhari ke anusar in logoan ke sath vijitoan tatha aantaravijitoan (arthath svatantr simavarti rajyoan) ke bich ka vyavahar kiya jata tha. gaandhar, yavan, kamboj, uttar-pashchimi simaant pradesh mean the. bhoj, rashtrik, pettanik sambhavatah aparant pashchimi sima mean the. 13vean shilalekh mean ashok ne athavian jatiyoan ka ullekh kiya hai, jo aparadh karate the. unhean yathasambhav kshama karane ka ashvasan diya gaya hai. kintu sath hi yah chetavani bhi di hai ki anutap arthath pashchatatap mean bhi devanaanpriy ka prabhav hai. yadi ye jatiyaan kathinaiyaan utpann karean to raja ko unhean saza dene tatha marane ki shakti bhi hai. sambhavatah yah atavi pradesh budelakhand se lekar u disa tak phaila hua tha. ye atavi jatiyaan yadyapi parajit hueean thian, tathapi unaki aantarik svatantrata ko manyata de di gee thi. ashok ka dharm parivartan—isamean koee sandeh nahian ki apane poorvajoan ki tarah ashok bhi brahman dharm ka anuyayi tha. mahavansh ke anusar vah pratidin 60,000 brahmanoan ko bhojan diya karata tha aur anek devi-devataoan ki pooja kiya karata tha. kalhan ki rajatarangini ke anusar ashok ke isht dev shiv the. pashubali mean use koee hichak nahian thi. kintu apane poorvajoan ki tarah vah jijnasu bhi tha. maury rajy sabha mean sabhi dharmoan ke vidvan bhag lete the. jaise—brahman, darshanik, nigranth, ajivak, bauddh tatha yoonani darshanik. dipavansh ke anusar ashok apani dharmik jijnasa shant karane ke lie vibhinn siddhaantoan ke vyakhyataoan ko rajyasabha mean bulata tha. unhean upahar dekar sammanit karata tha aur sath hi svayan bhi vichararth anek saval prastavit karata tha. vah yah janana chahata tha ki dharm ke kin granthoan mean saty hai. use apane savaloan ke jo uttar mile unase vah santusht nahian tha. ek din apane rajabhavan ki khi daki se usane shraman nigrodh ko bhiksha ke lie jate hue dekha aur usake vyaktitv se bahut hi prabhavit hua. nigrodh ashok ke b de bhaee suman ka putr tha. nigrodh ke pravachan ko sunakar ashok ne bauddh dharm apana liya. bad mean vah moanggaliputt tiss ke prabhav mean a gaya. uttari bharat ki anushrutiyoan ke anusar upagupt ne ashok ko bauddh dharm mean dikshit kiya. in bhikshuoan ki shiksha tatha sampark se ashok ka rujhan bauddh dharm ki or badh raha tha. in anushrutiyoan se pata chalata hai ki ek sadharan bauddh hone ke bavajood ashok ne kaliang par akraman kiya. kaliang yuddh ke narasanhar se ashok ki aantaratma ki tivr aghat pahuancha. is pashchatap ke parinamasvaroop ashok ne vidhivat bauddh dharm grahan kar liya. kintu jaisa ki ashok ke ek laghu shilalekh se vidit hota hai, bauddh dharm mean dikshit hone ke bad lagabhag ek sal tak ashok ne bauddh dharm ke prasar mean sakriy bhag nahian liya. avashy hi ek upasak ke roop mean usane 10vean varsh bauddh gaya ki yatra ki. vihar-yatra ka sthan dharm yatraoan ne le liya. isake bad vah ek varsh tak sangh mean hi raha ya sangh ke bhikshuoan ke nikat sampark mean raha. is sampark ke phalasvaroop vah dharm ke prati atyadhik utsahashil ho gaya. usane janata mean prachar ke lie dharm-sambandhi upadesh shilaoan evan stanbhoan par utkirn karavae. dharm prachar ke lie ashok ne jo kary kie unaka vistrit vivechan age kiya jaega. ashok ka dhamm sansar ke itihas mean ashok isalie vikhyat hai ki usane nirantar manav ki naitik unnati ke lie prayas kiya. jin siddhaantoan ke palan se yah naitik utthan sambhav tha, ashok ke lekhoan mean unhean 'dhamm' kaha gaya hai. doosare tatha satavean stanbh-lekhoan mean ashok ne dhamm ki vyakhya is prakar ki hai, "dhamm hai sadhuta, bahut se kalyanakari achchhe kary karana, paparahit hona, mriduta, doosaroan ke prati vyavahar mean madhurata, daya-dan tatha shuchita." age kaha gaya hai ki, "praniyoan ka vadh n karana, jivahiansa n karana, mata-pita tatha b doan ki ajna manana, gurujanoan ke prati adar, mitr, parichitoan, sambandhiyoan, brahman tatha shravanoan ke prati danashilata tatha uchit vyavahar aur das tatha bhrityoan ke prati uchit vyavahar." brahmagiri shilalekh mean in gunoan ke atirikt shishy dvara guru ka adar bhi dhamm ke aantargat mana gaya hai. ashok ke anusar yah purani parampara (poran pakiti) hai. tisare shilalekh mean ashok ne alp vyay tatha alp sangrah ka bhi dhamm mana hai. ashok ne n keval dhamm ki vyakhya ki hai, varanh usane dhamm ki pragati mean badhak pap ki bhi vyakhya ki hai—chandata, nishthurata, krodh, man aur eershya pap ke lakshan haian. pratyek vyakti ko inase bachana chahie. ashok ne nity atm-parikshan par bal diya hai. manushy hamesha apane dvara kie ge achchhe karyoan ko hi dekhata hai, yah kabhi nahian dekhata ki maianne kya pap kiya hai. vyakti ko dekhana chahie ki ye manoveg—chandata, nishthurata, krodh, eershya, man—vyakti ko pap ki or n le jaean aur use bhrasht n karean. dhamm ke in siddhaantoan ka anushilan karane se is sambandh mean koee sandeh nahian rah jata ki yah ek sarvasadharan dharm hai. jisaki moolabhoot manyataean sabhi sampradayoan mean many haian aur jo desh kal ki simaoan mean abaddh nahian haian. kisi pakhand ya sampraday ka isase virodh nahian ho sakata. ashok ne apane terahavean shilalekh mean likha hai—brahman, shraman aur grahasth sarvatr rahate haian aur dharm ke in acharanoan ka palan karate haian. ashok ke samrajy mean anek sampraday ke manane vale the aur ho sakata hai ki unamean tho da bahut virodh tatha pratidvandvita ka bhav bhi raha ho. usane sabhi sampradayoan mean samajasy sthapit karane ke lie sadachar ke in niyamoan par zor diya. barahavean shilalekh mean ashok mean dharm ki sar-vriddhi par zor diya hai, arthath ek dharm—sampraday vale doosare dharm—sampraday ke siddhaantoan ke vishay mean janakari prapt karean, isase dharmasar ki vriddhi hogi. isamean koee sandeh nahian ki ashok bauddh dharm ka anuyayi tha. sabhi bauddh granth ashok ko bauddh dharm ka anuyayi batate haian. ashok ke bauddh hone ke sabal praman usake abhilekh haian. rajyabhishak se sambaddh laghu shilalekh mean ashok ne apane ko 'buddhashaky' kaha hai. sath hi yah bhi kaha hai ki vah dhaee varsh tak ek sadharan upasak raha. bhabru laghu shilalekh mean ashok triratn—buddh, dhamm aur sangh mean vishvas karane ke lie kahata hai aur bhikshu tatha bhikshuniyoan se kuchh bauddh granthoan ka adhyayan tatha shravan karane ke lie kahata hai. laghu shilalekh se yah bhi pata chalata hai ki rajyabhishek ke dasavean varsh mean ashok ne bodh gaya ki yatra ki, barahavean varsh vah nigali sagar gaya aur kanak muni buddh ke stoop ke akar ko duguna kiya. mahavansh tatha dipavansh ke anusar usane tritiy bauddh sangiti (sabha) bulaee aur moggaliputt tiss ki sahayata se sangh mean anushasan aur ekata lane ka saphal prayas kiya. yah doosari bat hai ki ekata theravad bauddh sampraday tak hi simit thi. ashok ke samay theravad sampraday bhi anek upasampradayoan mean vibhakt ho gaya tha. ashok ke saranath tatha saanchi ke laghu stanbh lekh mean sanghabhed ke viruddh yah adesh jari kiya gaya hai ki jo bhikshu ya bhikshuni sangh mean phoot dalane ka prayas karean unhean sangh se bahishkrit kiya jae. yah adesh kaushambi aur pataliputr ke mahapatroan ko diya gaya hai. isase pata chalata hai ki bauddh dharm ka sanrakshak hone ke nate sangh mean ekata banae rakhane ke lie ashok ne rajasatta ka upayog kiya. hamean ashok ke vyaktigat dharm aur abhilekhoan mean die hue dhamm mean spasht bhed rakhana hai. ashok bauddh tha, triratn mean vishvas karata tha. kintu jis dhamm ke upadesh ka usane logoan mean prachar kiya vah sarvasadharan dhamm tha. yah manav dhamm tha, tabhi to ashok apane terahavean shilalekh mean videshoan mean yoonani shasakoan aur desh mean samrajy ke bahar dakshin ke p dosi rajyoan mean dhamm vijay ka dava karata hai. ukt shilalekh ke anusar in sabhi deshoan mean log dhammanushasan (dharm ki shiksha) sunate haian aur dhamm ke anukool acharan karate haian. shilaoan tatha stanbhoan par utkirn lekhoan ke anushilan se ham is nishkarsh par pahuanchate haian ki ashok ka dhamm vyavaharik phalamoolak (arthat phal ko drishti mean rakhane vala) aur atyadhik manaviy tha. is dharm ke prachar se ashok apane samrajy ke logoan mean tatha bahar achchhe jivan ke adarsh ko charitarth karana chahata tha. isake lie usane jahaan kuchh batean lakar bauddh dharm mean sudhar kiya vahaan logoan ko dharm parivartan ke lie vivash nahian kiya. vastutah usane apane shasanakal mean nirantar yah prayas kiya ki praja ke sabhi vargoan aur sampradayoan ke bich sahamati ka adhar dhooandha jae aur samany adhar ke anusar niti apanaee jae. satavean shilalekh mean ashok ne kaha, "sabhi sampraday sabhi sthanoan mean rah sakate haian, kyoanki sabhi atmasanyam aur bhavashuddhi chahate haian." barahavean shilalekh mean usane ghoshana ki ki ashok sabhi sampradayoan ke grihasth aur shravanoan ka dan adi ke dvara samman karata hai. kintu maharaj dan aur man ko itana mahatv nahian dete jitana is bat ko dete haian ki sabhi sampraday ke logoan mean saravriddhi ho, saravriddhi ke lie moolamantr hai vakasanyam (vacho gutti). logoan ko apane sampraday ki prashansa tatha doosare sampradayoan ki ninda nahian karani chahie. logoan mean sahamati (samavay) badhane ke lie dhamm mahapatr tatha any karmachariyoan ko lagaya gaya hai. ashok ke dhamm ki vivechana karate hue romila thapar ne likha hai ki kuchh rajanitik uddeshyoan se hi ashok ne ek ne dharm ki kalpana ki tatha isaka prasar kiya. chandragupt maury ke samay shasan ke kendrikaran ki niti saphalatapoorvak poori ho chuki thi. kushal adhikaratantr, achchhi sanchar vyavastha aur shaktishali shasak ke dvara us samay samrajy ka jitana kendrikaran sambhav tha, vah ho chuka tha. kintu kendr ka adhipaty banae rakhana do hi tarah se sambhav tha, ek to sainik shakti dvara kathor shasan tatha raja mean devatv ka aropan karake aur doosare sabhi vargoan se sankalit saragrahi dharm ko apanakar. yah doosara tariqa hi adhik yukti sangat tha kyoanki aisa karane se kisi ek varg ka prabhav kam kiya ja sakata tha aur phalatah kendr ka prabhav badhata. ashok ki yah niti sar roop mean vahi thi jo akabar ne apanaee thi. yadyapi usaka roop bhinn tha. sianhasanaroodh hone ke samay ashok bauddh nahian tha. bad mean hi usaki bauddh dharm mean ruchi badhi kyoanki uttaradhikar yuddh ke samay use sambhavatah kattar samudayoan ka samarthan nahian mila. atah bauddh dharm ko spasht roop mean samarthan dekar usane un vargoan ka samarthan prapt kiya jo kattar nahian the. romila thapar ka anuman hai ki bauddh aur ajivakoan ko navodit vaishy varg ka samarthan prapt tha tatha janasadharan ka in sampradayoan se tivr virodh nahian tha. is prakar ashok ne dharm ko apanane mean vyavaharik labh dekha. is ne dharm ya dhamm ki kalpana ka doosara karan tha chhoti—chhoti rajanitik ikaiyoan mean bante samrajy ke vibhinn vargoan, jatiyoan aur sanskritiyoan ko ek sootr mean baandhana. inake sath-sath vibhinn pradeshoan mean satta ko dridh karane ke lie yah upayog mean laya ja sakata tha. kintu bauddh anushrutiyoan aur ashok ke abhilekhoan se yah siddh nahian hota ki usane kisi rajanitik uddeshy se dhamm ka prachar kiya. terahavean shilalekh aur laghu shilalekh se vidit hota hai ki ashok dharm parivartan ka kaliang yuddh se nikat sambandh hai. romila thapar ka mat hai ki dhamm kalpana ashok ki niji kalpana thi, kintu ashok ke shilalekhoan mean dhamm ki jo batean di gee haian unase spasht hai ki ve poorn roop se bauddh granthoan se li gee haian. ye bauddh granth haian—dighanikay ke lakkhan sutt chakkavatti sihanad sutt, rahulovad sutt tatha dhammapad. in granthoan mean varnit dharmaraj ke adarsh se prerit hokar hi ashok ne dhamm vijay adarsh ko apanaya. lakkhan sutt tatha chakkavatti sihanad sutt mean dhammayukt chakravarti samrat ke vishay mean kaha gaya hai ki vah bhautik tatha adhyatmik kalyan ke lie prayatnashal rahata hai. aisa raja vijay se nahian apitu dhamm se vijayi hota hai. vah talabar ke bajay dhamm se vijay prapt karata hai. vah logoan ko ahiansa ka upadesh deta hai. ashok ne dhamm ki jo paribhasha di hai vah 'rahulovadasutt' se li gee hai. is sutt ko 'gehavijay' bhi kaha gaya hai arthat 'grahasthoan ke lie anushasan granth'. upasak ke lie param uddeshy svarg prapt karana tha n ki nirvan. chakkavatti (chakravarti) dhammaraj ke adarsh ko apanate hue ashok ne janasadharan ke naitik utthan ke lie apane dhamm ka prachar kiya taki ve ehik sukh aur is janm ke bad svarg prapt kar sakean. isamean sandeh nahian ki ashok sachche hraday se apani praja ka naitik punaruddhar karana chahata tha aur isake lie vah nirantar prayatn shil raha. vah nissandeh ek adarsh ko charitarth karana chahata tha. yahi ashok ki maulikata hai. ashok ne dhamm prachar ke lie b di lagan aur utsah se kam kiya. ahiansa ke prachar ke lie ashok ne kee qadam uthae. usane yuddh band kar die aur svayan ko tatha rajakarmachariyoan ko manav-matr ke naitik utthan mean lagaya. jivoan ka vadh rokane ke lie ashok ne pratham shilalekh mean vikshapti jari ki ki kisi yajn ke lie pashuoan ka vadh n kiya jae. 'ih' shabd se yah anuman lagaya jata hai ki yah nishedh ya to rajabhavan ya phir pataliputr ke lie hi tha, samast samrajy ke lie nahian. pashu—vadh ko ekadam rokana asambhav tha. atah ashok ne likha hai ki rajakiy rasoee mean pahale jahaan saik doan hazaroan pashu bhojan ke lie mare jate the, vahaan ab keval tin prani—do mor aur ek mrig mare jate haian, aur bhavishy mean ve bhi nahian mare jaeange. sath hi ashok ne yah bhi ghoshana ki ki aise samajik utsav nahian hone chahie, jinamean aniyantrit amod-pramod ho. jaise—surapan, maans bhakshan, mallayuddh, janavaroan ki l daee adi. inake sthan par ashok ne dhammasabhaoan ki vyavastha ki jinamean viman, hathi, agniskandh, ityadi svarg ki jhaankiyaan dikhaee jati thi aur is prakar janata mean dhamm ke prati anurag paida kiya jata tha. bihar—yatraean, jinamean pashuoan ka shikar rajaoan ka mooly manoranjan tha, band kar di gee. unake sthan par ashok ne dhamm yatraean prarambh kian. in yatraoan ke avasar par ashok brahmanoan aur shravanoan ko dan deta tha. vriddhoan ko suvarn dan deta tha. vyaktigat upadesh se am janata mean dharm prasaran mean sahayata mili. ashok ne anek bauddh sthanoan ki yatra ki, jaise—bodh gaya, lumbini, nigalisagar adi. in dharm yatraoan se ashok ko desh ke vibhinn sthanoan ke logoan ke sampark mean ane ka aur dharm tatha shasan ke vishay mean logoan ke vichar janane ka avasar mila. sath hi in yatraoan se ek prakar se sthaniy shasakoan par niyantran rahata tha. ashok ne rajy ke karmachariyoan—pradeshik, rajuk tatha yuktakoan ko prati paanchavean varsh dharm prachar ke lie yatra par bheja. ashok ke lekhoan mean ise anusandhan kaha gaya hai. apane rajyabhishek ke chaudahavean varsh mean ashok ne ek navin prakar ke karmachariyoan ki niyukti ki. inhean "dhammamahapatr" kaha gaya hai. apane kary ki drishti se dhammamahapatr ek navin prakar ka karmachari tha. in karmachariyoan ka mukhy kary janata ko dhamm ki batean samajhana, unamean dhamm ke prati ruchi paida karana tha. ve samaj ke sabhi vargoan—brahman, kshatriy, vaishy, das, nirdhan, vriddh—ke kalyan tatha sukh ke lie kary karate the. ve simaant deshoan tatha videshoan mean bhi kam karate the. rajy mean sabhi prakar ke logoan tak unaki pahuanch thi. unaka kary tha dharm ke mamale mean logoan mean sahamati badhana. brahman, shraman tatha rajagharane ke logoan ko danashil karyoan ke lie protsahit karana, karavas se qaidiyoan ko mukt karana ya unaka dand kam karavana tatha logoan ki anyay se raksha karana. dhammamahapatroan ki niyukti se ek varsh poorv usane samrajy ke vibhinn sthanoan par dhamm ki shikshaoan ko shilalekhoan mean utkirn karavaya. dhamm prachar evan dhamm vijay ke sandarbh mean ashok ke shilalekhoan mean kuchh aise vivaran bhi milate haian, jinamean usake evan videshoan ke parasparik sambandhoan ka abhas milata hai. ye sambandh kootaniti evan bhaugolik sannidhy ke hitoan par adharit the. ashok ne jo sampark sthapit kie ve adhikaanshatah dakshin evan pashchim kshetroan mean the aur dhamm mishanoan ke madhyam se sthapit kie the. in mishanoan ki tulana adhunik sadabhavana mishanoan se ki ja sakati hai. ashok ke ye mishan sthayi taur par videshoan mean ek ashcharyajanak tathy haian ki stanbh abhilekh nan0 7, jo ashok ke kal ki akhiri ghoshana mani jati hai, tamraparn (shrilanka) ke atirikt aur kisi videshi shakti ka ullekh nahian karati. shayad videshoan mean ashok ko unati saphalata nahian mili jitani samrajy ke bhitar. phir bhi itana kaha ja sakata hai ki videshoan se sampark ke jo dvar sikandar ke akraman ke pashchat khule the, ve ab aur adhik chau de ho ge. jahaan tak pashchimi shaktiyoan ka sambandh hai, shilalekh 5 evan 13 mean yavanoan, kambojoan evan gaandharoan ka ullekh hai. kintu uttar-pashchim ki in shaktiyoan ke pashchim mean bhi kuchh aisi shaktiyaan thian, jo ki sikandar ke akraman ke bad sthapit ho gee thian aur samany roop se yavan thian. inamean se kuchh ko ashok ne nam lekar abhihit kiya hai. ek sthan par ashok ne kaha hai ki usake dhamm mishan simavarti rajyoan aur 600 yojan jaise sudoor kshetroan mean bhi pahuanche the. shilalekh 2 evan 13 mean yavan naresh aantiyok ka ullekh hai jo akhamani entiyokas dvitiy mana jata hai. kaha jata hai ki ashok ne vishal patthar par ek abhilekh utkirn karavaya jisaki ghoshanaoan ki shaili akhamani praroop se prarit thi. bhashashastriy adhyayan se bhi in samparkoan ki pushti hoti hai. ashok ke shahabazagadhi evan manasehara shilalekhoan mean kharoshthi lipi ka prayog evan kuchh eerani shabdoan ka prayog bhi isi or sanket karate haian. rudradama ke joonagadh abhilekh mean aparant (pashchim bharat) mean ashok ke gavarnar ke roop mean yonaraj tufask ka nam milata hai. jo spashtatah ek eerani nam hai. pashchim ke hi kuchh any nareshoan ke nam ashok ke shilalekh nan0 13 mean milate haian--