+91-8076753736 support@wiredfaculty.com
logo
logo

Sponsor Area

Kings, Farmers And Towns

Question
CBSEENHS12027553
Wired Faculty App

The anguish of the king

When the king Devanampiya Piyadassi had been ruling for eight years, the (country of the) Kalingas (present day coastal Orissa) was conquered by (him).

One hundred and fifty thousand men were deported, a hundred thousand were killed, and many more died.

After that, now that (the country of ) the Kalingas has been taken, Devanampiya (is devoted) to an intense study of Dhamma, to the love of Dhamma, and to instructing (the people) in Dhamma.

This is the repentance of Devanampiya on account of his conquest of the (country of the ) Kalingas.

For this is considered very painful and deplorable by Devanampiya that, while one is conquering an unconquered (country) slaughter, death and deportation of people (take place) there...

A. Who was called, ‘Devanampiya Piyadassi? Give his brief description.

B. Mention the importance and limitations of inscriptions.

C. Explain the effects of war of Kalinga on Ashoka.

D. Why did the king repent after the war of Kalinga?

Solution
A. Ashoka, the great ruler of the Maurya Dynasty was called Devanampiya Piyadassi. Ashoka is the earliest known ruler to have inscribed his messages to his subjects and officials on stone surface natural rocks as well as polished pillars. When the king Devanampiya Piyadassi had been ruling for eight years, the (country of the) Kalinga (present day coastal Orissa) was conquered by (him). One hundred and fifty thousand men were deported, a hundred thousand were killed, and much more died.
B. Importance of inscriptions:

Inscriptions are very important as they describe about major political centers, rulers, the extent of empires, date of events etc. Some of these inscriptions were on stone, but most were on copper plates which were probably given to those who received the land, as a record of the transaction.

Limitations of Inscriptions:

By now it is probably evident that there are limits to what epigraphy can reveal. Sometimes, there are technical limitations. Letters are very faintly engraved, and reconstructions are uncertain. Also inscriptions may be damaged, and letters missing. Although several thousand inscriptions have been discovered, not all have been deciphered, published and translated. Besides, many more inscriptions must have existed, which have not survived the ravages of time. So, what is available at present is probably only a fraction of what was inscribed.

C. (a) Dharam Vijaya: He shattered his dreams for gaining victory over the world. He rather proceeded on the path of religious victory. Now, he realized that the highest world victory consists of the victory over human hearts.

(b) Accepting Buddhism: The Kalinga war opened his eyes and he accepted Buddhism. Had he not indulged in this war he would never have possibly accepted Buddhism.

(c) Change in lifestyle: Like his predecessors, Asoka too fought the battles, indulged in hunting, ate flesh and led a life of luxury before the Kalinga war. But this war changed the very stream of his life. Now, he had turned into the priest (adherent) of non-violence, supporter of the poor and helpless to the extent that he attended to the call of the poor leaving aside his sleep and food. It appeared as if a perential stream of compassions had started flowing through his heart.

D. The causes responsible for the repent of the King Asoka: In this war, one hundred and fifty thousand men were deported, a hundred thousand were killed and many of more died. This is the repentance of Devanampiya. This is considered very painful and deplorable by Devanampiya that, while one is conquering an unconquered (country) slaughter, death and deportation of people (take place) there...

Some More Questions From Kings, Farmers And Towns Chapter

Compare and contrast the list of things given to the Pandyan chief (Source 3) with those produced in the village of Danguna (Source 8). Do you notice any similarities or differences?

List some of the problems faced by epigraphists.

Discuss the main features of Mauryan administration. Which of these elements are evident in the Asokan inscriptions that you have studied?

This is a statement made by one of the best-known epigraphists of the twentieth century, D.C. Sircar: “There is no aspect of life, culture and activities of the Indians that is not reflected in inscriptions”. Discuss.

Discuss the notions of kingship that developed in the post-Mauryan period.

To what extent were agricultural practices transformed in the period under consideration?

Compare Maps 1 and 2, and list the Mahajanapadas that may have been included in the Mauryan Empire. Are any Asokan inscriptions found in these areas?

Collect newspapers for one month. Cut and paste all the statements made by government officials about public works. Note what the reports say about the resources required for such projects, how the resources are mobilised and the objective of the project. Who issues these statements, and how and why are they communicated? Compare and contrast these with the evidence from inscriptions discussed in this chapter. What are the similarities and differences that you notice.

Collect five different kinds of currency notes and coins in circulation today. For each one of these, describe what you see on the observe and the reverse (the front and the back). Prepare a report on the common features as well as the differences in terms of pictures, scripts and languages, size, shape and any other element that you find significant. Compare these with the coins shown in this chapter, discussing the materials used, the techniques of minting, the visual symbols and their significance and the possible functions that coins may have had.

What is meant by Janapada?

Mock Test Series

Mock Test Series

NCERT Sample Papers

Entrance Exams Preparation