Page:Asoka - the Buddhist Emperor of India.djvu/228

to Pâṇini, i. 2, 52. The new inscriptions consist simply of the name Gorathagiri incised twice on the rocks near the Asoka caves. The final vowel is uncertain (J. B. 0. Res. Soc., vol. i (1915), pp. 159-71, with plates).

B. THE DASARATHA DEDICATIONS
1. THE VAHIYAKÂ CAVE

'The Vahiyakâ Cave was assigned by Dasaratha, His Sacred Majesty (Devânaṁ piyenâ), immediately after his consecration, to the venerable. Âjîvikas, for as long as sun and moon endure.'

2. THE GOPIKÂ CAVE

The text and translation agree with No. 1, except for the name of the cave.

3. THE VAḌATHIKÂ CAVE

The text and translation agree with No. 1, except for the name of the cave.

Comment

Dasaratha, a grandson of Asoka, succeeded his grandfather in the eastern provinces about 232 b.c. It would seem that the empire was divided, another grandson, Samprati, obtaining the western provinces. The position of the title Devânaṁpiyena after the proper name is so unusual that Fleet suggested as a grammatically possible rendering, 'Dasaratha, immediately after his consecration by His Sacred Majesty,' which would imply the accession of the grandson during his grandfather's lifetime. In the Maski inscription We find Devânaṁpiyasa Asokasa. The script is more cursive than that of most of the Asoka records. The facsimile of inscription No. I is reproduced in the Oxford History of India, p. 117. The text of that document is almost perfect; the others are more or less blurred,but all are legible.