I ASOKA MAURYA V NHNG PHP D KHC TRN Trn Trc-Lm ---o0o--Ngun http://thuvienhoasen.

n.org Chuyn sang ebook 6-8-2009 Ngi thc hin : Nam Thin namthien@gmail.com Link Audio Ti Website http://www.phatphaponline.org Mc Lc
PHN I: DN NHP PHN II: NI DUNG NHNG PHP D KHC TRN CA I ASOKA MAURYA (304 TTL. - 232 TTL.). A. Mi Bn i Thch Php D. B. Nhng Thch Php D Kalinga C. Tiu Thch Php D D. By Thch Tr Php D E. Tiu Thch Tr Php D F. Php D Hang ng Karna Chaupar Ti Liu Tham Kho

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PHN I: DN NHP
hiu r thm v vai tr lch s trng i ca Hong Asoka khng nhng i vi dn-tc An, m cn i vi nhn loi qua s truyn b Pht gio n cc nc khc, ta nn n li i cht v bi cnh lch s An ng thi. Lch s An tn ti rt lu i, n c 5 ngn nm. Mt cch khi qut, nu tnh t thi vn minh thung lng sng Indus c i vng ty bc tiu lc a An, da vo nhng pht hin kho c Harappa v Mohenjo-Daro th n xut hin khong 2, 500 nm TTL Nn vn minh ny ko di hn mt ngn nm, c xem nh l mt trong nhng nn vn minh c nht ca nhn loi, cng vi nn vn minh Ai-cp v Mesopotamia ( Iraq ngy nay). Nhiu s gia cho l ging dn Dravidian bn a, vc thp, da sm, mi rng, tc xon, dng ln nn vn minh vi l nghi tn gio pht

trin, thit k v kin trc th ban s c k hoch, bit dng ng v thau, bit dt lng cu v lm du mc. tc tng vv... n khong 1,500 nm TTL, c ging Aryan, vc ln, da trng, mi cao, nhiu ru, t vng Trung ( mn nam nc Nga ngy nay) theo ng Iran xm chim vng ty bc (Punjab ngy nay). H chuyn i t li sng du mc sang nh c nng nghip, bit qu trng sc vt, nht l nga v b ci, bit ch to xe do sc vt ko, bit lm lch theo mt trng, tn sng cc o s v thy t l vv, n khong nm 800 TTL h chia thnh nhiu tiu vng cai tr ht vng ng bc v nam n. H a vn hc, trit hc, tn gio, t chc x hi n n tt nh, to nn nn vn minh Vedas, ct li ca n gio. Upanishads c l c kt tp gia th k th 8 v th 5 TTL. Nhng cng t x hi n b phn chia ra nhiu ng cp khc bit, cn ko di n ngy nay; i c bn giai cp (varnas) t cao n thp l Brahmans (B-la-mn: gm thy t l, tr gi), Kshatriyas (vng tng), Vaisyas (thng nhn, a ch) v Sudras (k lao ng, th thuyn, ngh nhn, gia nhn). Ba ng cp trn dnh cho ngi gc Aryan, c xem l tinh khit, c quyn hc kinh Vedas c ti sinh theo ngha tn gio (born again). ng cp th ba dnh cho dn gc bn a, khng tinh khit v khng c hc kinh Vedas. Phi k thm mt hng ngi na khn kh thp km nht chng c xp vo giai cp no, gi l Harijans hay Paraiyans (Hng gh tm), bao gm nhng k lm ngh st sinh sc vt, thuc da. Nn nh l trong mi ng cp cn c s phn chia ra rt nhiu th loi (jati) tm gi l phng hay nghip on. Theo thng k nm 1901 c n 2,378 phng nh th. n khong th k th 6 TTL, thi c Pht Thch Ca cn ti th, ny sinh nhiu trng phi i ci cch nhng quan nm bt cng i x trong x hi bt ngun t Vedas v cn thch thc c n gio. Hai tn gio mi c tm nhn khoan dung v cch mng hn xut hin: l Pht gio v K Na gio (Janism). Trong giai on ny, t n c khong 16 nc ln nh; v cc vng quc hng mnh u tp trung vng bc n (vng Bihar by gi) nh Avanti, Vaishali (V-s-l), Kosala (Kiu-tt-la), Magadha (Ma-Kit-) vv.. Sau nhiu cuc chin tranh xm lc tng tn, Magadha di triu vua Bambisara (Tn-B-Sa-La, li c ni dch l BnhSa-Vng) thuc ging h Haryanka thu tm cc ln bang tr nn mt quc kh rng, ng kinh Rajagrha (Thnh Vng X), cch Patna ngy nay khong 35 dm v pha ng nam.

Vua Bambisara ln ngi lc 15 tui, tr thnh mt c s Pht t lc 30 tui, v nht tnh h tr o Pht. ng tr v c 52 nm, xy 16 tnh x Vng X v cng dng c Thch Ca khu vn trc rng ln Pht cng tng on c ngm hong ho. Khu vn ny c nhc n nhiu ln trong Tam tng kinh in, l Tnh X Trc Lm (Venuvan-arama). Nhiu tc gi nghin cu v Pht gio u cho rng ngn ng c Thch Ca thuyt php thi by gi l ting Magadhi ph thng. n khong nm 420 TTL triu i Haryanka li mt vo tay ca ging h Nanda, nhng h Nanda ch tn ti c trong vng 100 nm ri b ging h Maurya lt . u th k th 4 TTL, sau khi nh bi qun Persians vo nm 326 TTL, i Alexander m rng quc Hy lp t pha Ty n bin cng An ri dng li vng sng Bs (by gi l Lahore, Pakistan). Sau khi Alexander qua i Babylon vo nm 323 TTL, Chandragupta Maurya lc by gi lt triu i Nanda vo nm 321 TTL y lui nhiu t qun xm lng ca Seleucus Nicator I, k k v Alexander vng Afghanistan, Baluchistan v Pakistan by gi, ri m rng b ci xung pha ty nam n Gujatt v thung lng Daccan. Vua Chandragupta Maurya (tr v t 321 n 298 TTL) di n Ptaliputr (Thnh Hoa Th; tc thnh ph Patna ngy nay) vn l mt pho i kin c trn ng chu th giao tip ca hai con sng chnh l Ganga (Hng H) v sng Sona. S sinh hot v cai tr theo li trung ng tp quyn v nhng chnh sch ngoi giao kho lo ca triu i Chandragupta Maurya c ghi li trong cun Arthasastra bi Kautilya (cn c bit di tn Chanakya), l t tng ca triu ng. Ngoi ra nhiu on ca mt bo co do s thn ca vua Seleucus tn l Megathenes ghi li cn tn ti n nay qua s trch dn ca cc s gia Hy-La. n i vua Bindusra Maurya (tr v t 298 - 273 TTL) th quc ny cn bnh trng thm na t Kashmir pha bc n Karntaka pha nam, v t chu th sng Hng pha ng sang n mn nam v ng ca x Afghanistan by gi. quc Maurya ni ting vi nhng thnh ph ln phn thnh nh Takshasila, Ujjain, Vidisha, Tosali, v Suvarnagiri. n i Hong Asoka Maurya (cn c ghi l Ashoka, dch l A Dc Vng, hay A-du-Ca: c ngha l V u), v vua th ba ca triu i Maurya, ng k tip chnh sch b quyn, v thu tm gn ht tiu lc a

n. quc ca ng hng mnh tt nh v ng li cho hu th mt chng liu min vin bng , di dng nhng php d, bi nu khng th nhng iu ni v vua Asoka ch c bit qua nhng huyn thoi ghi li trong nhng k yu vit bi cc tng s Pht gio Tch-Lan v n nh cc b Divyavadana, Asokavadana, Mahavamsa vv.. Hong Asoka Maurya sinh nm 304 TTL, ln ngi nm 269 TTL lc 35 tui, tr v c 38 nm v mt nm 232 TTL th 73 tui. ng l v vua v i nht ca n, v l v hong u tin cai tr mt quc n rng ln. Da vo b Mahvamsa (i S) c bin son bi tng gi Tch-Lan th ngay sau khi vua cha l Bindusra bng h vo nm 273 TTL, c s tranh dnh ngi vua rt gay gt gia cc hong t trong 4 nm. Giai on ny S ghi l thi khng vua (Interregnum). Rt cc Asoka, vi s h tr c lc ca vi i thn kinh Ptaliputr (Thnh Hoa Th), thnh cng v ln ngi vo nm 269 TTL. Tm nm sau khi k v vua cha, hong Asoka xua qun nh chim nc Kalinga dc vng duyn hi mn ng, nay l bang Orissa v x ny giu c nh qung mo, sung tc nh va la, vv tr hng hi thun li dn n vng thung lng Krishna y m vng v qu. Chin dch thnh cng nhng m mu. Theo cc php d do ng sai khc ln th cuc xm lng ny lm cho 150 ngn ngui b bt lm n l hoc b y i, 100 ngn qun s b git, s thng dn b st hi cn cao hn nhiu ln. Trc trn Kalinga hai nm, c v nh l vua Asoka tr thnh mt Pht t sau khi nghe v Sa-di Nigrodha (Ni-cu-thut) thuyt php, nhng khng my nhit tm (xem Tiu thch php d s 1), mi n sau khi chng kin thm cnh au thng ca chin dch ny ng qu xc ng v rt hi hn, ri t quyt t b chin tranh xm ln v hi tm tr nn mt Upsaka (u-b-tc: c-s Pht t) thun thnh. Sut qung i cn li ng kin tr ng dng Pht php vo vic tr nc mt cch y nhn i m ng gi l dhammavijaya (php chinh phc), v ng h Pht gio pht trin su rng khng nhng trn ton quc ng cai tr m cn truyn b n cc nc ln bang. Nhng s kin ny xy ra khong hai th k sau khi c Pht Thch Ca nhp dit. B Mahavamsa - vn c vit trong tinh thn tn gio vi nhiu huyn thoi vi dng rn i mun cao Asoka t khi tr thnh Pht t t

b qu kh y c nghip, t mt Candsoka (A-Dc Vng bo cha) tr thnh Dhammsoka (A-Dc Vng m Php) - nn b ny ghi rng trong cuc tranh dnh ngi vua, Asoka git 99 ngi trong s 100 anh em ca mnh, ch cn st li mt ngi tn l Tissa. Thc ra khng c chng c kh tn v iu ny, v li trong i thch Php d s 5 c ban ra 11 nm sau khi ng ln ngi cn cho thy vua Asoka nhc n anh ch em mnh. Cc hc gi tin rng trong v tranh ngi ny ch c mt ngi anh (hay em) b st hi m thi. Hn na vi thi gian tr v ca ng, ngoi hai s kin l tranh dnh ngi vua v cuc xm lng Kalinga trong 8 nm u, sut qung 30 nm cn li ng tr thnh mt hong nhn t em Chnh Php ra ng dng vo i, ch khng tn bo nh Nero ca La M hay Tr Kt, Tn Thu Hong ca Trung Quc, nn vc gn cho ng x danh Candasoka xem ra thiu c s. Nhiu hc gi nghim tc cn so snh ng vi nhng v nhn khc nh Hammurabi ca Babylon, Charlemagne ca quc Ty u hu La M hay Akbar ca quc Mogul. Nhiu c th Tch-Lan ghi li s kin l Asoka nh p dng chnh sch chinh phc n ho bng Chnh Php m ng khn kho n nh i sng chnh tr ton vng v nhiu ln dp yn cc cuc ni lon m khng mu; trong ng k l cuc ni lon ca dn thnh Takshasila thuc vng Gandhara chng li s p bc h khc ca quan cai tr a phng. V sau Gandhara tr thnh thnh a ca Pht gio, m t phi i tha pht trin qua phng ng. thn dn thng hiu chnh c nhng s ci cch trong chnh sch cai tr mi v nhng nguyn tc v o c ng t ra da theo Chnh Php ct to dng nn mt x hi y nhn bn v cng chnh hn, Asoka ra lnh khc nhng php d ny ln - c khi gi l Li ghi chnh php (dharmalipi) , c khi li gi l php lnh (dharma-sravana) - ng thi cho rao truyn rng ri khp ni trong nc. Nhng php dkhc trn ca vua Asoka minh ha c hnh nh ca mt v minh qun lun nhit tm thc thi Chnh Php ca Pht dy mang li cho trm h mt i sng hin ho, no m phc li, nhng vn khng cho bit thm chi tit no v cuc i ca ng. S khai th v cc Php d ca Asoka c xem nh ch l gn y m thi. Ngi nghin cu u tin li l mt tu s Thin Cha gio, khi cha Tieffenthaler kho st nhng mnh ca php tr Meerut ti Delhi vo nm 1756, nhng khng hiu c ni dung. Mi n nm 1837 nhng php d

ca Asoka mi c nh kho c James Prinsep gii m m ln u tin, ri t nhng php d c dch thut v in n qung b khp ni. Ban u Prinsep thy rng nhng d ny c ban ra bi mt v vua t gi mnh l "Vua Piyadasi, Thin t" (phng t "Beloved-of-the-Gods, King Piyadasi") hoc "Devanampiya Piyadasi, Thin t, Ngi Nhn Xung vi T Tm" ("Beloved-of-the-Gods, He Who Looks On With Affection"). Cc hc gi phng on Vua Piyadasi c th l Vua Asoka, thng c xng tng trong cc huyn thoi Pht gio. Cho mi n nm 1915, khi mt php d khc c tm thy vi tn vua Asoka, ngi ta mi khng nh c rng c hai chnh l mt, l hong Asoka, v t , sau hn hai ngn nm b qun lng, nhng php dkhc trn ny ca vua Asoka bng dng lm sng t thm v mt con ngi v i ca lch s n v ca c nhn loi, ch khng cn l mt nhn vt ch uc bit n qua huyn thoi. Mt cu ghi li trn phn nh chiu hng tm linh ca Asoka: "Tt c thn dn l con ca ta. V l con ca ta, h phi c chu cp y an sinh v phc li trong i ny v i sau, nh ta vn hng mong." Theo gio s Romila Thapar v mn Lch s n c ti i hc Jawaharlal Nehru New Delhi th h vn t ca cc Php d ny c xem l vn h sm nht ca n c th nghin cu c. Vn h c hn m ngi ta khm ph Harappa thuc vn minh thung lng sng Indus ch l nhng nt v tng hnh trn du mc, vt trang sc v l gm m n nay vn cha ai hiu c ngha. Nhng php d khc ca vua Asoka nh du thi k chuyn bin t khu truyn sang vn t ca x hi n v chng l nhng ch tng m ch khng tng hnh nh xa. Nghin cu k nhng bia k, ngi ta thy Hong Asoka cho ghi li Php d bng bn vn h cho ba ngn ng khc nhau. Phn quan trng v chim i a s bia k l ngn ng Prakrit - by gi l ngn ng m thoi ph thng ca x Magadhi, tc l ngn ng chnh thc trong triu Asoka, v phn cn li bng ngn ng Hy-lp v Aramaic. Ngn ng Prakrit li c vit di hai dng vn h Brahmi v Kharoshthi (gn vi Sanscrit). a s php d c vit theo vn h Brahmi, truyn b rng khp quc. Nhiu hc gi cho rng vn h Brahmi do triu i Maurya sng to bi nhu cu hnh chnh trong vic cai tr mt quc rng ln. N l dng chuyn tip gia Sanscrit xut pht t vng ty bc n (thng dng trong gii thn hc, trit hc, hoc huyn hc) v ngn ng hin i Indo-European ca n. Vn h Brahmi, d vy cng b bin dng

i cht theo pht m tng a phng, v d vn h vit ting Tamil vng pha nam vn ci bin t h Brahmi. S s dng ngn ng Prakrit trong cc Php d cng cho thy rng Asoka mun em Chnh php ra ng dng vi i thng ch khng ch mt s tng l dng bn lun theo ngn ng Sanscrit. Vn phong dng th ni chuyn rt bnh dn d hiu v thung lp i lp li, c nh Hong mun trc tip ni vi qun chng, ch khng kiu cch cu k nh cc quc vng khc ng thi hay x dng. Qua y nhiu hc gi nhn thy bn tnh bc trc chn tht ca Asoka. Rt t bn khc bng vn h Kharoshthi v bng ngn ng Hy-lp v Aramaic. Nhng bn ny ch thy vng ty bc thuc Afghanistan by gi, ni c nhiu dn ni c hai ngn ng y. Khng r l nhng Php d thuc loi ny c triu nh ra lnh hay l do cc quan cai tr a phng lm ra nh l mt bn dch cho dn trong vng, vn a chng hn tp. Trn mt trong nhng php d vng ny, Hong Asoka k ra tn ca 5 v vua cc nc phng ty ng thi c bang giao, nh vy gip nhiu cho vc nghin cu s i chiu. l cc vua Antiyoka (Anh ng: Antiochos II Theos Syria: 261- 246 TTL), Turamaya (Ptolemy II Philadelphos ca Ai cp: 285 - 247 TTL), Antikini (Antigonos Gonatas ca Macedonia: 278 - 239 TTL), Maka (Magas ca Cyrene: 300 - 258 TTL) v Alikasudara (Alexander ca Epirus: 272 - 258 TTT). Da vo cc bia k bng Hy ng vAramaic ny m cc nh nghin cu Ty phng hiu c nhng t tng t bn Prakrit. Nhng cng chnh v vy gy kh nhiu ng nhn, v d t dharma li khng c ly mt ch gc Hy v Aramaic (v c Anh ng ngy nay) tng ng dch v ngay trong cc bn vn bng Hy ng vAramaic ny cng khng c ni no cp n c Pht. Cho nn nhiu dch gi phi phng dch ra nh l: thng xt (piety), c hnh (virtue), bn phn thing ling (sacred duty), hoc dng nguyn ng l dharma dy bi c Pht (the dharma taught by the Buddha). Trong bn khc bng Hy ng li c ghi l eusebeia, vi mt ngha rt tng qut nh va k. Chnh v da vo nhng ng nhn ny m nhiu hc gi Ty phng nghi ng rng ch dharma Asoka dng khng phi mang mt ngha nh Chnh php ca o Pht m l nhng khuyn d v o c x hi ni chung. C k cn bo rng v trn nhng bia k chng h thy Asoka cp n gio l cn bn ca Pht gio nh l Lun hi (samsra), Gii thot

(mokkha), Nit-bn (nibbna), V ng (anatta), Bt Chnh o (atthangikamagga), hay T Diu (cattari ariya-saccani) nn gii thch ch dharma theo li suy din ngoi o ch quan ca mnh. Tht l ng tic, v h qun rng d Asoka tr thnh mt c-s Pht t nhng ng phi cai tr mt quc rng ln nh mt minh qun, phi cng bng vi thn dn vn a dng v a tn ngng, mt x hi c nn vn ho bao dung ch khng cung tn c tn, c thn. Asoka khng th no dng nhng ngn t thun Pht php ph d thn dn c. Nhng qua mt vi php d ring cho tng gi v d tiu thch php d s 3 hay cn gi l Php d Bairt, th khng cn nghi ng g na v c tin Pht gio ca Asoka. Trong d ny sau li vn an tng gi, ng xc nh c tin v i ca ng vo Pht, Php v Tng. ng bo rng tt c php do c Pht thuyt ging u l chn diu php v ng mun n c trng tn. ng cn cho ghi ra tn ca 7 bn kinh Tng-gi thng xuyn tu hc. Nhng php d khc ni chung nhm vo nhiu thnh phn l cc quan chc di triu, gii tng gi, v thn dn. i vi thnh phn u th ng quan tm n s an sinh phc li ca dn chng, v ku gi cc quan chc nn cao o c v nhm v x hi cai tr dn tt hn. thnh phn gia th ng quan tm n vic tu tp ca tng chng v vc iu hnh cc tnh x. thnh phn sau th ng ch khuyn khch vic n theo Chnh php (Dharma). Vua Asoka cn thng xuyn tun du thin ha, gi l nhng chuyn vi hnh Php (dhammaytras) ging dy Chnh php cho mi ngi. ng cn ra lnh cho cc quan i thn cng nn lm nh th. Hong Asoka t cho mnh c trch nhim phi gii ngha, cng b v rao ging Chnh Php (Dharma). Vi s minh mn siu vit, Asoka ch ra trong i thng, n l s tng tc nhiu mt ca i sng o c: N phn nh nhng trch nhim v bn phn ca con ngi tu vo v tr ca mnh trong x hi; n phn nh ci trt t trong v tr v chn l cm nhn c trong ci trt t ; n l mi dy rng buc con ngi trong gia nh, x hi, tn gio v t nc; n l ci tri kin c bn lm nn tng cho s thng cm v an ho, vn c biu l khc nhau bi cc nn vn ho v tn gio d bit; n l s ch o cho hnh ng v s t gic v hnh phc; n ch t c bng hnh ng, pht trin thm bng thc hnh, v bo v bng lut l, v nh vy n to nn c s cho chnh sch, gio dc v cng l; n c khm ph bng t qun, thin nh, v chuyn ho, v n a dn n vic t b nhng iu khng thch nghi vi n. Sut thi tr v, ng kin tr thc thi nhng tin

tng ca mnh cho n cui i khi ng ng ho vi quan nim chakraqvartin, (Chuyn lun vng); t cho mnh l mt minh qun ang vn hnh bnh xe chnh php khp ni bo ton s an sinh phc li cho mi ngi. ng li t ra mt b gi l "B thc thi Chnh php hay B Php Hnh", b nhim cc quan i thn gi l dharmamahmtras (Php i thn) vo nm 257 TTL (theo d s V, 13 nm sau khi ng ln ngi) chuyn trng coi mi cng tc phc li x hi ca ngi dn, quan tm n nhng nhu cu thit yu ca ph n, ca dn sng bin cng, n cc cng ng tn gio khc nhau v phi v t khi thi hnh cng l. ng cn ph d cho cc quan chc cc cp nn thuyt phc dn trong vc ng dng Chnh php vo i sng thng ngy hn l p buc bng lnh lc. ng cng u thm quyn cho nhng phn quan khp ni ngn nga s chnh mng cng tc, cng nh trnh vic i x d man vi sc vt v gii quyt nhanh chng nhng kh khn gp phi. Php d cn lit k nhng th rng c triu nh bo v khng c sn bn. ng cn ra lnh l nhng vic khn cp cn phi c t n ng ngay. Nhng thnh tu ng k cn c ca tng n by gi l vic xy ct nhiu bnh vin cho ngi v gia sc, cng nh cho trng nhiu khu vn tho dc, vic xy dng rng ri mt h thng ng s vi hng cy a v xoi ph bng bn l, vi ging o v nh ngh dc ng tng khong u n cho khch l hnh. H thng giao thng ny lm cho vic thng mi v hnh chnh ca quc Maurya pht trin thun li nhiu mt. i vi thn dn t khai ng th Hong Asoka khuyn khch vic ng dng Chnh Php vo i sng hng ngy bng thc hnh nhng gii c chn tht (sace), t bi, n ha (daya), t t vi mi ngi (samya pratipati) hn l thng by tr cng t cu xin n phc; nn thng b th (dana) cho ngi ngho kh (kapana valaka), cho cc v tu hnh, bn b, thn nhn vv..; hn ch st sinh, khng hnh h sc vt (avihisa bhutanam); khng xa x, khng tham cu, v trnh d lm lnh (apa vyayata apa bhadata) [ta theo li dy trong Kinh Tng nht A-hm (Anguttara Nikaya, II:282)]; bit knh trng cc bc trng thng nh cha m, ng b, s ph, v c i vi bn b, ti t v thy cng t b la mn [tng t li dy ca c Pht trong Trng B Kinh (Digha Nikaya) on 31]. ng dy rng nu lm c nh th th s mang li cng c v lng.

ng khng ra v bt phi theo mt nghi l tn gio c on no, nhng ch thuyt v Pht gio ring vi gii tng gi m thi. i vi cc tn gio khc ng thi, gm c n gio, K na gio v gio phi Ajivika chuyn tu kh hnh, ng rt cng bng v khuyn khch sng i o hnh (bhava sudhi), nhit tm (usahena), tn trng ln nhau, cao gi tr ni tm (bahu sruta), t ch (sayame) v ngn cm vic xung t tn gio. ng khng ngng hc hi m o vi cc v chn tu ca cc tn gio. V hnh thc th cc Php d c phn loi theo dng b mt c chm khc: mt ni tng, tr v hang ng. Ngay c b mt ca vt liu v ni chn cng hm ci dng cng ca n, cho nn ni dung ca Php d cng i thay tng ng. Da vo cc php d ny m ngi ta c th on c nin k ca cc s kin trong thi Asoka tr v. C th phn bit c hai giai on cc bia k c to ra. Giai on u, 11 nm sau khi Asoka ln ngi, cc php d c khc trn vch mt cch th thin, v tu vo ni dung di ngn m cn chia ra l i Thch Php d (Major Rock Edicts) v Tiu Thch Php d (Minor Rock Edicts). Nhng Thch Php d ny thng c khc trn nhng tng ni ln n nay b h hng kh nhiu. Ly trng hp bia k Sopara, ch vi mnh ca d VIII v IX cn st li. Nh vo nhng vn bn khc cn c bo qun tt m ngi ta c c nhng on b mt nhng php d b h hng. Cho n nay ngi ta pht hin c 14 i thch php d mang ni dung rt rng ri t vic hn ch st sinh n cung cp cc dch v phc li v y t, ri n cuc chin Kalinga v nhng tc dng ca n. Li thm hai php d Kalinga c ban ra vo nm mm 259 TTL, c hc gi cn gi l php d s 15 v 16. (m ni dung tng t nh 3 php d b h hng, l cc php d s XI: ni v vic cu t v s tng thn ca nhn loi, s XII: ni v s khoan dung tn gio v XIII: ni v cuc chn tranh Kalinga, s hi tm ca Asoka). Hai php d ny cng c li dnh cho cc quan cai tr vng mi chim, ni v nhng vn o c, thi hnh cng l, vn lm gim cng thng vi ln bang v ci thin ho bnh lin quc. Mi bn i thch php d k trn c tm thy 6 ni khc nhau gm: hai ni gn bin gii pha ty ca quc Maurya bn bin Rp l Sopara thuc bang Bombay v Girnar thuc bang Saurahtra; hai ni gn bin gii ty bc l Mansehra v Shahbazgarhi vng ty Pakistan; mt ni pha bc l Kalsi thuc Uttar Pradesh v mt pha nam Erragudi thuc Andhra

Pradesh. Mi mt i thch php d cng vi 2 php d Kalinga cn c tm thy Dhauli v Jaugada thuc Orissa, gn b bin pha ng bn vnh Bengal. Nhng Tiu Thch Php d c l c ban ra vo nm 260 TTL v l nhng Php d u tin, cng lc vi nhng chuyn vi hnh Php bt u. Chng tp trung hu ht pha gia v nam ca quc gm Tiu Thch Php d I, c tm thy ti 7 ni bc An v Hyderabad: l Bairat, Gavimath, Maski, Palkigundu, Gujarra, Rupnath v Sahasram. Tiu Thch Php d II c tm thy ti 5 ni pha nam l Brahmagiri, JatingaRamesvara v Siddaoura thuc bang Mysore, Erragudi v Rajula-Mandagiri thuc bang Andhra. Tiu Thch Php d III (php d dnh cho tng gi ban ra vo nm th 12 sau khi ln ngi) c tm thy Bairat. giai on sau, vo nm th 27 n 28 di triu ca hong Asoka, nhng php d mi c khc ln trn nhng ct nh ch bng long, c dng ln nhiu thnh ph quan trng trong thung lng sng Hng v cc ng ln trong quc, thng c gi l Thch tr Php d (Pillar Edicts). Lc ban u c l c rt nhiu php tr c dng ln, nhng n nay ch cn li c 10 tr m thi. Mi tr trung bnh cao khong t 12 n 15 thc, nng n 50 tn. Trn u mi tr u c iu khc nhng hnh tng tht tinh xo nh s t gm, con b thn hay con nga thnh vv.. Tt c thch tr u c ly t cc m Chunar, pha nam Varanasi v c ko n ni c dng ln, nhiu khi xa c hng trm dm. D sau bao nhiu th k phi gia ma nng gi sng vy m nc bng lng vn cn sng nh gng, ni ln cht lng cao tuyt ca ngh thut tc ca An thi by gi. Hai i s Trung quc hnh hng Ty trc (An) l Php Hin (Fa Hien: 401 - 410 TL.) ghi l nhn thy 6 php tr, v Huyn Trang (Hiuen Tsang hay Yuan Chwang: 629 - 645 TL) th thy 15, trong s y ngy nay ch 2 cn tn ti ng theo li Huyn Trang m t trong k s. Nhng php thch tr dng Meerut v Topra c vua Sultan Driuz Shah di v Delhi th k 14. Tr ti Kausambi (thuc bang Kosam ngy nay) cng c vua Akbar di v Allahabad th k 16. Mt s ln khc c l b chn vi, che ph bi rng rm theo thi gian thng trm, vt i sao di. Cc Thch tr Php d ny gm 7 d m ni dung tng i n gin: bt u bng hai tr ni v t tnh ca Chnh php, n 3 tr ni v s ng dng Chnh php vo vic ch ng c nghip v tham i, vic truyn b o

c v cng l, v nhng qui nh v vic st hi sc vt v tic tng cng cng, v kt thc vi mt php d (hoc 2 nh trong trng hp ca tr Topra) ni v phng thc truyn b o c. Nhng thch tr Php d ny c tm thy ri rc trn 30 ni khp ton ci quc Maurya bao gm An , Nepal, Pakistan v Afghanistan ngy nay, nh Meerut v Kausambi thuc Utter Pradesh, Lauriya-Araraj, Lauriya-Nandangarh v Rampurva thuc Bihar. Mt tr khc vi d th 7 li c tm thy ti Topra thuc vng ng Punjab. Vn bn ca bia k trn cc Thch tr Php d ny ging ht nhau. Tr Allahabad li c khc thm 2 d khc. D th nht, c khi c gi l tiu thch tr php du I, cng cn thy xut hin Sanchi thuc bang Bhopal v ti Sarnath thuc bang Uttar Pradesh. Bia k khng c bo qun tt nn vn bn ca bia k trn tr ba ni c nhiu thay i. Tr ti Sarnath (ni c vn nai: Lc Uyn) li cn khc thm phn tip theo ca d trn tr Allahabad, cn gi l tiu thch tr php d II. Ngy nay chnh ph n dng hnh tc bn con s t u lng vi nhau trn thch tr Sarnath lm biu tng quc gia. D cn li th hai trn tr Allahabad c khi c gi l tiu thch tr php d III, l qu tng ca mt b hong hu ca vua Asoka, nn cn c gi l Php d ca Hong hu. Hai tr tm thy Nepal l tr ghi du thnh a, mt Rummindei hay Lumbini, ni c Pht n sanh, mt gn h ln Nigali Sagar, gn thp gi x li ca c Pht Kanakamuni. Nhng hang ng php d (The Cave Edicts) c tm thy 3 trong s 4 hang trong dy ni Barabar thuc bang Bihar. Trong 2 hang trc c bia k ca Hong Asoka ghi vo nm th 12, hang th ba ghi nm th 19 sau khi ng ln ngi, tng cc hang ng nh l ni c tr cho cc nh tu kh hnh thuc gio phi Ajivika, m gio ch l Gosala cng thi vi c Thch Ca. Trong hang th 4 th bia k c ghi li thuc th k th 5 TL sau ny. mt ni khc l i Nagarjuni c 3 hang ng na cha bia k tng cho tu s phi Ajivika ca mt v vua dng tc v "Thin t ", nhng li do vua Dasaratha, chu ca hong Asoka cho dng ln. V tr ca Hong Asoka trong Pht gio tht l vinh hin, c th ni l c tn sng ln hng H Php Vng. Nhng cng c ca ng thng c gii Pht t ca tng l lng sng bi v h tr Pht gio ca ng. Asoka cho xy ct nhiu thp th x li Pht (stpa), nhiu tnh x (vihra).

Kinh sch cn ghi l 84 ngn vihras 84 ngn th trn, v ngi ln nht Asokrma ngay kinh vua thng n cng bi. ng chu cp thc phm cho hng trm ngn tng ni, v th thi by gi c nhiu k xu li dng khoc o nh tu gia nhp tng chng c sng an nhn. iu ny a n tnh trng suy i trong vic tu tp Pht php. Khi bit ra t nn, Asoka lin ra lnh cho thanh lc hng ng tng gi v loi b n 60 ngn k ngy danh v n bm trc k i hi kit tp kinh in (sangti) ln th 3 ti kinh Ptaliputr do ng bo tr. ng thng i hnh hng chim bi nhng Pht tch v cho dng nhng ct tr tn thn, m gn y nhiu cuc kho c pht hin c Lumbini ni c Thch Ca n sanh, hay B o trng (Bodh Gaya) m thi y c gi l Sambodhi hay Vajirasana. Ring thch tr B o trng li c khc Php d s VIII ban ra vo nm th 10 sau khi ng ng quang. ng cn ra mt chng trnh tu hoc Pht php cho tn . ng cng cho dng nhng tr ghi s liu ng Pht php ca ng (nh trn Tiu thch php d). ng thng trc tip phn x nhng cuc tranh lun gia cc tng phi v cng quyt ngn chn nhng s phn ho trong tng gi. Cng nh s h php ca ng m Pht gio c lan rng khp quc Maurya, v n cc nc ln cn. Cng theo b Mahavamsa Tch Lan thi khi Hi ng tng gi trong nc quyt nh mun truyn b Pht php ra nc ngoi, vua Asoka lin gip tch cc, cn phi ngay c hong t Mahinda v cng cha Sanghamitta, (v v sau c a chu Sumana) vo on truyn gio xung Tch Lan vo nm th su di triu ca ng, cng nh gi nhng on khc n vng ng Nam v Trung . ng cn gi nhng on s gi (duta) n 5 nc pha ty thuc quc Hy lp mi n vng bin a Trung Hi (Mediteranean) t Syria n Macedonia, nh ghi trong php d s XIII. Trong khi nhng on truyn gio qua hng ty khng my thnh cng th nhng tng on hong ho do hong t Mahinda v cng cha Sanghamitta hng dn xung pha nam li thnh cng rc r. Ngay t bui u cho n nay Pht gio tr thnh quc gio Tch Lan. C truyn thuyt cho rng phi Thng to b cn c truyn n Min in t Tch Lan di triu Asoka, nhng ai cng bt rng Pht gio ch du nhp Min vo khong t th k th 5 TL.

ng tic l sau khi ng mt vo nm 232 TTL th quc Maurya rng ln cng tan r theo khong 50 nm sau, v ri b ging h Shungas thay th; v nhng cng tc phc li x hi do ng xng cng khng ko di c lu tr nhng php d khc vo v nh hng truyn b o Pht qua ng Phng. Trn Trc-Lm Seattle, Chm thu 2001 ---o0o---

PHN II: NI DUNG NHNG PHP D KHC TRN CA I ASOKA MAURYA (304 TTL. - 232 TTL.).
Li tha trc: Hin nay c kh nhiu bn dch ra Anh ng v nhng Php d ca Vua Asoka vn c vit bng ting Brahmi (Prakrit). Bn dch Vit ng ny da vo 2 bn Anh ng ph thng nht v c nhn di 2 gc tiu biu: 1). Gii hn lm, ca cc tc gi Nayarayanrao Appurao Nikam v Richard McKeon thuc Vin i hc Chicago, n hnh nm 1959 (Vit tt "Bn Nikam") v 2). Gii tng gi, ca Ho thng S. Dhammika thuc Buddhist Publication Society, Sri Lanka, n hnh nm 1993 (Vit tt "Bn Dhammika"). Qu c gi c th vo trang http://www.accesstoinsight.org xem bn Dhammika. Tuy vy, trong khi i chiu lm r ngha hn gia 2 bn ny chng ti nhn thy rng ngoi nhng khc bit v vn phong, vi on cc dch gi ni trn c li din dch khc hn nhau. V th chng ti cn nhc chn li dch no gn vi tinh thn ni dung ca Php d chuyn ra Vit ng, v dng nhng t ng hp vi ng thi hn. Ngoi ra ngay di mi Php d, chng ti thm phn ghi ch v nhn xt ring (NXR) gii thch nhng khc bit, thay v cui bi khng c tin dng. D vy vn khng th trnh c nhng s st. Mong c qu v cao minh ch gio. Xin gi gp n kvt9899@aol.com. Mong bi vit ny ng gp phn no vo ti liu S Pht Gio. a t. ---o0o--A. Mi Bn i Thch Php D. TPD I.

Thin t, Vua Piyadasi, ban lnh cho ghi php d ny 1. Trong lnh th do trm cai tr khng sinh linh no c st hi hoc t sng v khng tc tng lin hoan no c t chc, bi Thin t, Vua Piyadasi thy nhiu iu xu c trong nhng cuc t hp lin hoan y. Nhng Thin t, Vua Piyadasi vn chun y cho mt vi cuc lin hoan khc. Trc y, trong nh bp hu cung ca trm c hng trm ngn sinh th b git hng ngy lm thc n. Nhng vi Php d ny k t nay ch c ba loi sinh th c php h tht m thi, l hai con cng v mt con nai, nhng thnh thong mi lm tht nai. V ri nay mai c ba th ny cng s khi b git. ---o0o--TPD II. Khp ni 2 thuc lnh th do Thin t, Vua Piyadasi cai tr, v dn c ngoi bin i nh dn Cholas, dn Pandyas, dn Satiyaputras, dn Keralaputras, v xa hn na dn Tamraparni, v x Yona (Hy-lp) do vua Antiyoka cai tr, v vua cc x ln cn vi vua Antiyoka 3. Thin t, Vua Piyadasi ban cho hai loi sn sc y t: cho ngi v cho th. Ni no khng c tho dc tr liu, trm cho du nhp v trng. Ni no khng c c r hoc tri cy lm thuc, trm cho du nhp v trng. Dc cc ng trm cho o ging v trng cy ngi v th c hng li 4. ---o0o--TPD III. Thin t, Vua Piyadasi phn rng 5: Php d ny c ban ra sau mi hai nm trm ng quang - Trm lnh cho cc quan Yuktas, Rajjukas v Pradesikas phi tun du thanh tra khp ni thuc lnh th do trm cai tr mi 5 nm hun d Chnh php nh di y, ng thi lo cc chnh s khc 6 . Bit knh trng vng li cha m l vic tt, ho phng vi bn b, thn hu, b con, cc bc tu hnh 7 l vic tt, khng st sanh l vic tt, bit chng mc trong tiu pha v tit kim l vic tt, tt c ton l nhng iu phc c.

Triu nh nn bo cho cc quan a phng phi tun th nghim chnh nhng iu hun d ny ng ca trm. ---o0o--TPD IV. Nhiu trm nm trong qu kh, vic st hi sinh vt, i x t bc vi b con, v thiu tn knh vi cc bc tu hnh gia tng 8. Nhng nay do vic thc hnh Chnh Php ca Thin t, Vua Piyadasi, nn diu m ca Chnh Php thay dn cho ting trng 9. nhiu trm nm hin tng v nhng thin xa, voi lnh, sao bng v nhng cnh tng thn linh khng xy ra. Nhng nay do Thin t, Vua Piyadasi c xy vic khng ch st hi sinh th, i x n cn vi b con, tn knh cc bc tu hnh, v knh trng cha m v bc trng thng, nhng cnh tng im lnh y li gia tng 10. Nhng iu ny cng vi nhiu li khc thc hnh Chnh Php c Thin t, Vua Piyadasi khuyn khch, v ngi s tip tc thng tin vic thc hnh Chnh Php. Ri cng th, cc con, chu v chc ca Thin t, Vua Piyadasi s tip tc thng tin vic thc hnh Chnh Php cho n ht i; an tr trong Chnh Php th h mi gio hun dn theo Chnh Php c. Thc vy, gio hun theo Chnh Php l cng tc cao c. Tuy vy k thiu o c th khng th thc hnh Chnh Php c, bi vic thc hnh v thng tin Chnh Php l vic ng ca tng. Php d ny c ghi nhng k k tha ca trm hoan h tn lc mnh thng tin Chnh Php v khng suy thoi. Thin t, Vua Piyadasi lnh cho Php d ny ghi li mi hai nm sau khi ngi ng quang. ---o0o--TPD V. Thin t, Vua Piyadasi phn rng 11: Lm iu thn thc kh. K no lm iu thin l lm c nan s. Trm lm nhiu iu thin, v nu cc con, cc chu v hu du ca trm, cho n ht i noi gng trm th s lm c nhng iu tht tt. Nhng ai trong bn chng b b d mt phn hun d ny th chng s lm iu c. Thc vy, lm iu c th rt d 12. Trong qu kh khng h c Php i thn (Dhamma Mahamatras), nhng mi ba nm sau khi trm ng quang chc v ny c b nhim. T nay

h c y nhim lm vic vi tt c cc tn gio cho vic cng c Chnh Php, cho s thng tin Chnh Php, v cho an sinh v hnh phc ca tt c nhng ai ngng m Chnh Php. H c y nhim lm vic vi dn Yonas (Hy-lp), dn Kambojas, dn Gandharas, dn Rastrikas, dn Pitinikas, v cc dn khc bin cng pha ty ca lnh th. 13 H c y nhim lm vic vi qun s, cc cp ch huy, cc bc tu hnh, cc c s, 14 k ngho kh, ngi gi c, v nhng ai ngng m Chnh Php lo cho s an sinh v hnh phc ca h v h khi b nhng nhiu. Cc Php i thn c y nhim lm vic ci thin cch i x vi t nhn, a n vic phng thch chng, v nu cc Php i thn ngh rng "K ny c mt gnh nng gia nh", "K kia b vu co", "k n gi", th h tin hnh vic phng thch cc k . H c y nhim lm vic khp ni, y (ni bia k c khc, dng), nhng th trn xa xi, trong nhng hu cung thuc cc bo huynh hay bo t ca trm, v hong tc. Cc Php i thn chuyn lo truyn b Chnh Php c c i khp ni thuc lnh th, gia ngi dn ngng m Chnh Php xem ai ngng m Chnh Php, hay an tr trong Chnh Php, hay thc hnh b th. Php d ny c khc ln n c th trng tn v hu du ca trm c th theo y m thc hnh. ---o0o--TPD VI. Thin t, Vua Piyadasi phn rng: 15 Trong qu kh, quc s hoc cc biu tu khng h c trnh hong thng thng xuyn. Nhng nay trm ra lnh ny, khi cc quan c chuyn bm bo v dn tnh trong nc th c th n gp trm bt c lc no v bt c u, d trm ang ng thin, ang trong hu cung, trong cm cung, trn long xa, trong ng gi, trong thng uyn hay ang cu nguyn. V khi mt ban b hay tuyn dng bng khu lnh, hoc v quc v khn cp trm y quyn cho cc Php i thn, m gy nn s bt ng hay bn ci trong triu th phi cp bo cho trm bit ngay bt c lc no v bt c u. l mnh lnh ca trm. Trm khng h bao gi bng lng vi vic lm v canh cnh cho quc v ca trm. Trm cho rng vic thng tin an sinh ca thn dn l nhim v cao c nht ca trm, v ct li ca vic ny l phi chnh mnh tn lc. i vi trm, khng c iu g quan trng hn l vic thng tin an sinh ca thn dn, v tt c nhng n lc ca trm ch l tr ci n trm mc chng sinh

mu cu hnh phc cho h trong i ny v t n thin gii trong kip sau. V vy trm lnh cho Php D ny c khc ra trng tn v cc con, cc chu v cht ca trm noi theo v s an sinh cho mi ngi. Tuy nhin y l mt vic kh nu khng nhit tm v tn sc. ---o0o--TPD VII. Thin t, Vua Piyadasi mun rng tt c mn ca cc tn ngng u chung sng trn t nc ca ngi, v tt c bn h u mong cu t ch v thin tm.16 Nhng con ngi thng c nhiu xu hng v kht vng khc nhau, nn h c th thc hnh c mt phn hay tt c nhng iu y. Nhng k thiu t ch, lng khng trong sch, thiu n tnh v tn tm m li nhn lm phm vt cng dng, th k y l gian c. 17 ---o0o--TPD VIII. Trong qu kh, cc thin t hay tun du sn bn hoc vui chi. 18 Nhng mi nm sau khi ln ngi, Thin t, Vua Piyadasi n thm B o Trng 19 v nh th thit ch nhng cuc Php du hnh (Dharma-yatras). 20 Trong nhng ln nh th, cc vic sau c lm: ving thm v qu tng cho cc bc tu hnh, ving thm v tng (tin) vng cho ngi gi, ving thm dn thn qu, hun d h v Chnh Php v tho lun vi h v Chnh Php khi thch hp. Nhng iu ny lm Thin t, Vua Piyadasi p mt v li c xem nh l mt mi thu hoch khc. 21 ---o0o--TPD IX. Thin t, Vua Piyadasi phn rng: 22 Ngi ta hay cng nhiu l, nht l nhng dp au m, khi ci hi, lc sinh n, trc mt chuyn i xa. c bit l ph n li cn by ra lm l lt vt, v ngha khc.

Khng c g quy vi nhng l cng bi ny nhng thng th chng em li kt qu no. Ch c L Chnh Php (Dharma-mangala) l mang li rt nhiu kt qu. N bao gm vic i x t t vi n t v gia nhn 23, tn knh thy d, ng c c vi sinh linh, v cng dng cho cc bc tu hnh. Nhng vic nh th c gi l L Chnh Php. V th mt ngi cha, mt ng con, mt ngi anh em, mt ngi ch, mt ngi bn, mt ngi phi ngu, hay c ngi hng xm thy th nn bo: "Nhng vic ny tt, nn lm cho t n mc ch, ti nn tham d." Nhng bui cng l khc, d t mc ch hay khng vn chng c my gi tr. Nhng nhng mc ch ny, nu c ch hn ch trong i ny. Cn L Chnh Php th v cng. Cho d n khng t c mc ch trong i ny, n to ra v lng phc c cho i sau. Nu L Chnh Php t c mc dch trong i ny th li c c phc c trong i ny v i sau. 24 Lng ho phng thc ng ca ngi. Nhng khng c qu no ln bng qu Chnh Php, hoc bng li lc Chnh Php. V th, mt ngi bn, ngi khch, b con, hoc ngi phi ngu nn c xy ngi khc khi c hi n v bo rng: "iu ny tt, nn lm, rt ng khen. Lm vic ny ta c th t thin gii." V c vic g cn gi tr hn l t thin gii?" 25 ---o0o--TPD X. Thin t, Vua Piyadasi khng xem vinh quang v danh vng c gi tr g tr phi thn dn ca trm u nghe n Chnh Php v thc hnh Chnh Php trong hin ti vtng lai. 26 Ch c iu ny Thin t, Vua Piyadasi mi mun c vinh quang v vang danh. Tt c mi n lc ca trm ch nhm n gii thot cho con ngi khi vng n l trong i t nay v sau. Bi c nghip l vng n l. Tht l nan s cho k giu v ngi ngho tr phi h tn lc v t b tham vng. Li cng kh bi phn cho k giu hn l ngi ngho. 27 ---o0o--TPD XI. Thin t, Vua Piyadasi phn rng: 28 Khng qu no bng qu Chnh Php (Dharma-dana), 29 khng s quen bit no bng s quen bit Chnh Php

(Dharma-samstava), khng s san x no bng s san x Chnh Php (Dharma-samvibhaga), v khng s thn thuc no bng s thn thuc Chnh Php (Dharma-sambandha). V n bao gm nhng iu ny: i x t t vi n t v gia nhn, knh trng cha m, ho phng vi bn b, phi ngu, b con, cc bc tu hnh, v ng st sinh. V th mt ngi cha, mt ngi con, mt ngi anh em, mt ngi ch, mt ngi phi ngu, hay mt ngi hng xm nn bo rng: "iu ny c phc c, nn lm." Bng cch biu qu Chnh Php, ngi ta c li lc ngay trong i ny v v lng phc c trong i sau". ---o0o--TPD XII. Thin t, Vua Piyadasi tn knh tt c cc bc tu hnh v cc c s ca cc tn gio qua qu cp ngi ban v nhiu s vinh d. 30 Nhng Thin t, Vua Piyadasi khng coi trng qu cp hay vinh d bng s tng trng v o hnh ca ngi c tn ngng.31 S tng trng v o hnh c th t c bng nhiu li, nhng ci gc r vn l phi km ch li ni, khng c cao tn gio mnh v li ph bng tn gio khc mt cch v c, hoc l khi ng c th li qu . D bt k l do no, tn ngng ca k khc cn phi c tn vinh. C nh vy th tn gio ca mnh cng c li lc, v tn gio ca k khc na. Ngc li th tn gio ca mnh b tn hi, v tn gio ca k khc na. K no huynh hoang v tn gio ca mnh v cung tn v ph bng tn gio k khc vi c " ta lm vinh quang o ca ta", th ch lm tn hi n tn gio ca mnh. V th, s ha ng tn gio l iu tt. 32 Ai cng phi lng nghe v tn knh gio l ca o khc. Thin t, Vua Piyadasi mun rng mi ngi nn tm hiu thm gio l chn chnh ca tn gio khc. K no ch bit c chp vi tn gio ca mnh th phi c dy rng: Thin t, Vua Piyadasi khng coi trng qu cp v vinh d bng s tng trng v o hnh ca mi tn gio. t n iu ny, cc Php i thn, cc i thn chuyn lo v hu cung, nhng quan li trng nom nhng vng xa xi v nhng quan li khc phi tn tm. V kt qu l tn gio ca mi ngi u thng tin v Chnh Php cng c rng r. ---o0o---

TPD XIII. Thin t, Vua Piyadasi xm chim Kalinga tm nm sau khi ngi ng quang.33 Mt trm nm chc ngn ngi b bt v b y, mt trm ngn ngi b git v rt nhiu ngi na cht v nhng l do khc. Ngay sau khi Kalinga c chinh phc, Thin t, Vua Piyadasi mnh m nghing v hc hi Chnh Php, yu thch Chnh Php v mun pht trin Chnh Php. Nay Thin t, Vua Piyadasi rt xc ng v ly lm hi hn chinh phc Kalinga. Thc vy Ngi rt bun v hi tic vic chinh phc mt dn tc bt khut qua tn st, cht chc v y i. iu quan trng hn lm Thin T hi hn l cc bc tu hnh cng nh gii c s, tn ca cc tn gio ca nc ny - tt c u thc hnh knh trng bc trng thng, cha m v thy dy, i x t t v trung thnh vi bn b, ngi quen, k phi ngu, b con, n t, gia nhn - b thng, b git hay b chia la vi ngi thn. Ngay c nhng k khng bi h hn cng au kh khi thy bn b, ngi quen, ngi phi ngu v b con b lin ly. Nhng vic ny lm Thin t, vua Piyadasi au bun. Khng c nc no, tr x ca ngi Yonas (Hy Lp) khng c cc bc tu hnh (ging nh tu-s B-la-mn v o s kh hnh), v khng ni no m c dn li khng phng th tn gio ny hay tn gio n. 34 Bi th, d s t vong hay s b y i qua trn Kalinga ch bng mt phn trm hay mt phn ngn ca thc s, iu ny cng lm Thin t, Vua Piyadasi au bun. Ngi ngh rng nhng ai phm li nn c tha th nu c th. 35 Ngay i vi dn mi r nay sng di quyn cai tr ca Thin t, Vua Piyadasi, cng nn theo li sng mi m c x ng hong. Chng nn c khuyn co rng d Ngi hi hn nhng Ngi vn cn quyn lc trng tr bn chng nu chng phm ti ng cht. Thc vy, Thin t mun ai cng c v hi, t ch, v cng bng, ngay c nhng k phm li. Nay Thin t, Vua Piyadasi xem Chinh Phc bng Chnh Php (Dharmavijaya) mi l cuc chinh phc quan trng nht. 36 Cuc chinh phc ny chin thng lin tc khng nhng trong x m cn c vi nhng dn sng ngoi bin cng xa n su trm do-tun, (yojanas) 37 vua Yona (HyLp) l Antiyoka cai tr, v xa hn na ni ca bn vua khc cai tr, l vua Turanmaya, Antikini, Maka, v Alikasudara,38 xung pha nam vi dn Cholas, dn Pandyas, v cn xa hn na l dn Tamraparni. 39

 y trong lnh th ca Thin t, gia dn Yonas, 40 dn Kambojas, dn Nabhakas, dn Nabhapamkits, dn Bhojas, dn Pitinikas, dn Andhras v dn Palidas, khp ni dn u theo li gio hun v Chnh Php ca Thin t, Vua Piyadasi. C n nhng x m s gi ca Thin t, Vua Piyadasi cha n, dn y cng nghe n Chnh Php v nhng chiu ch ca Thin t v Chnh Php nn h tun th v tip tc tun th. Cuc chinh phc bng Chnh Php ny din ra khp ni v em li nim hn hoan - nim hn hoan ch do chinh phc bng Chnh Php em li m thi. Nhng nim hn hoan cng ch l kt qu nh. Thin t xem qu gt c trong i sau mi thc quan trng. Trm cho ghi Php d ny cc con v chu ca trm khi k v ng ly xm lng lm thnh tch. Nu chinh phc th nn khoan ha v nh trng pht. Nn xem chinh phc bng Chnh Php l cuc chinh phc tht s, bi n c kt qu trong i ny v i sau. Hy vui ly nim vui trong Chnh Php (Dharma-rati), bi n mang li kt qu tt rong i ny v i sau. ---o0o--TPD XIV. Thin t, Vua Piyadasi ra lnh cho nhng Php d ny c ghi. Vi bn c ghi ngn gn, vi bn c ghi va hay vi bn c ghi di hn. 41 Khng phi tt c u c trng by khp ni bi lnh th ca trm rt rng. Nhiu bn c khc v trm s cn sai lm thm. Vi Php d c lp i lp li v li hay p ca li dy thn dn thc hnh noi theo. Vi Php d khng hon tt v khng thch hp vi a phng, hoc v cn loi b, hoc v li ca ngi ghi khc. ---o0o--B. Nhng Thch Php D Kalinga TPDKa I. Thin t, Vua Piyadasi phn lnh ny cho cc i thn Tosali cng l cc Phn quan thuc thnh y: 42 Trm mun thy nhng g trm xem l chnh ng phi c thi hnh nghim chnh. Trm phi ch th cho cc ngi li

thc hin iu ny v trm t cc ngi v tr phi thu phc c nhn tm ca hng vn ngi. Mi ngi u l con ci ca trm. Nhng g trm c mun cho con ci ca trm, nh phc li v hnh phc cho i ny v i sau, trm u c mun nh th cho thn dn. Cc ngi khng hiu lng trm mun nh th no v nhng iu ny, v d mt vi ngi trong cc ngi hiu i na cng khng thu o ht lng ca trm. Cc ngi phi quan tm n iu ny. Trong khi thi hnh lut php nhiu ngi phi b giam cm, tra kho v ngay c b git v c nn lng dn ta thn. V th cc ngi phi hnh s tht v t. Phi trnh t him, tc gin, tn bo, th ght, nhn tm, try li hoc mt nhc. Lun phi t hi "Nhng thi y c trong lng ta khng?" Ct li vn l khng tc gin v nn nhn ni. Quan chc no chn mt khi thi hnh cng l khng nn c thng chc, k khc th cng thng tin v nn c bt. Ai trong cc ngi hiu c iu ny nn ni vi ng s "C gng thi hnh nhim v m Thin t giao ph. Nh vy, nh th ny ng l li dy ca Thin t, Vua Piyadasi." Thc hin nghim chnh hun d ny th gt c nhiu kt qu, cn nu lm khc i th chng t n thin gii v cng chang lm Thin t hi lng. Nu cc ngi tht bi trong nhim v s lm trm km vui. Nu thc hin nghim chnh th cc ngi s t thin gii v p lng trm. Php d ny phi c tuyn co cho mi ngi vo mi ngy Tisya. 43 N cng c th c c cho nhng c nhn vo nhng dp c bit nhng ngy khc. Nu lm c nh th l cc ngi thi hnh nhim v. Php d ny c ghi y nhc nh cc Phn quan trong thnh ny lc no cng nn c gng trnh giam cm v tra tn khng chnh ng. t c iu ny trm s phi cc i quan nhn i i thanh tra mi 5 nm xem cc Phn quan c theo ng li dy ca trm. Hn na, v hong t cai tr thnh Ujjayini s phi nhng v quan thanh tra nh th mi 3 nm. Cng lm nh th t thnh Taksasila. Nhng i quan thanh tra ny khng c chnh mng cng tc, v h phi bo m l nhng phn quan theo ng hun d ca Thin t. ---o0o--TPDKa II.

Thin t, Vua Piyadasi phn lnh ny cho cc a thn Samapa: 44 Trm mun thy nhng g trm xem l chnh ng phi c thi hnh nghim chnh. Trm phi ch th cho cc ngi li thc hin iu ny. Mi ngi u l con ci ca trm. Nhng g trm c mun cho con ci ca trm, nh phc li v hnh phc cho i ny v i sau, trm u c mun nh th cho thn dn. Nhng dn tc cha b chinh phc ngoi bin cng ca lnh th trm c th ang thc mc: "Hong thng ang tnh ton g v chng ta?" nh duy nht ca trm l chng sng m khng phi s hi g n trm, v tin tng trm; l trm s ban cho chng hnh phc ch khng phi kh au. Hn na, chng nn ghi nh rng trm tha th cho chng nhng li lm c th tha th c; v rng chng nn noi gng trm m thc hnh Chnh Php hng phc trong i ny v i sau. Trm dy iu ny l tr ci n m trm chu, v cc ngi hiu r lng quyt tm v li cam kt khng lay chuyn c ca trm. V th, thc hin c iu ny cc ngi phi thi hnh nhim v v lm bn chng an tm tin tng rng "Hong thng cng nh l ngi cha vy. Ngi thng chng ta nh thng chnh Ngi. Chng ta i vi Ngi cng nh l con ci ca Ngi vy." Trm dy cc ngi v cho cc ngi bit v lng quyt tm v li cam kt khng lay chuyn c ca trm. Trm s b nhim cc quan chc thi hnh iu ny khp cc tnh. 45 Hn nhin, cc ngi cn c th khch l bn chng tin tng trm v bo m an sinh v hnh phc cho chng trong i ny v i sau. Lm c nh th, cc ngi s t thin gii v gip trm tr ci n cho chng sinh. Php d ny c ghi khc y cc i thn c th tn ty khch l cc dn ngoi bin cng lun tin tng vo trm v khuyn khch chng thc hnh Chnh Php. Php d ny phi c tuyn co cho mi ngi mi bn thng lc u ma, 46 vo mi ngy Tisya. N cng c th c tuyn co vo nhng k gia nhng ngy k trn; v c th c c cho nhng c nhn vo nhng dp c bit. Lm c nh th l cc ngi thi hnh nhim v. ---o0o---

C. Tiu Thch Php D TTPD I. (Cn gi l Php D Maski) Thin t, Vua Asoka phn rng: 47 Trm tr thnh mt c s Pht t (Upasaka) hn hai nm ri, nhng khng my thun thnh. Mi n nay sau khi khi thng n ving Tng gi (Shanga hay Shamga) hn mt nm trm tr nn rt thun thnh. 48 Thn dn ca trm nu cha c tn ngng th nn noi theo. 49 y l kt qu ca lng nhit thnh ch khng phi v ngi cao c mi lm c. Cho ngay n c ngi hn ha,50 nu c lng nhit thnh vn c th t thin gii. V tuyn ngn ny c ghi li cho mc ch y. Hy nhit thnh ln hi ngi cao c v k hn h, hy cho cc dn ngoi bin cng bit v hy cho lng nhit thnh trng tn. V ri lng nhit thnh s tng trng, n s tng trng to ln hn, n s tng trng gp mt ln ri. 51 Thng ip ny c Thin t tuyn co hai trm nm chc ln trong chuyn du hnh. 52 ---o0o--TTPD II. (Cn gi l Php D Brahmagiri) Thin t, Vua Piyadasi phn rng: 53 Phi knh trng, vng li cha m v cc bc trng thng. Phi tn trng sinh mng. ng ni di. Phi thc hnh nhng gii ny ca Chnh Php. Cng nh th, hc tr phi tn knh thy dy, v trong gia nh phi lch thip vi thn nhn. y l l lut truyn thng ca Chnh Php dn n trng sinh. Ai cng phi hnh ng nh th. Ghi bi ngi khc (tn l) Chapala. ---o0o--TTPD III. (Cn gi l Php D Bairat hay Bhabra) Thin t, Vua Piyadasi gi li cho Tng gi, v cu chc khe mnh v an lc, ng thi tha rng: 54 Bch ch tn c, ch v r c tin cao c ca trm vo Pht, Php v Tng nh th no ri. Bch ch tn c, nhng g

c Pht thuyt ging u l diu ngn. diu Chnh Php phi trng tn. 56

55

Phi php m ni, tha ch v,

Bch ch tn c, nhng bi php - trch t Gii Lut, Li Sng Cao Thng, u Lo n, Bi Ca o S, Bi Ging v Cuc Sng Tinh Khit, Nhng cu hi ca u-B--X, v Bi ging v vng ng do c Pht dy cho La-Hu-La - nhng bi php ny, knh tha ch v trm mun tt c Ty-Khu v T-Khu-Ni (tng v ni) nn thng tng nim. 57 Nhng u B Tt v u B Di (c s nam v n) cng nn lm nh th. Trm cho ghi Php d ny ch tn c hiu c trm. ---o0o--D. By Thch Tr Php D TTrPD I Thin t, Vua Piyadasi phn rng: 58 Php d ny c ghi hai mi su nm khi trm ng quang. Hnh phc i ny v i sau thc kh m t c nu khng ht lng yu thch Chnh Php, ht lng t xt, ht lng knh trng, vng li, ht lng kinh s (c nghip), v ht lng hng hi. Nu theo ng li dy ca trm v tn knh Chnh Php th lng yu thch Chnh Php gia tng mi ngy, v s tip tc gia tng. Mi quan li cc cp ca triu nh t thng, trung v h cp u thc hnh theo Chnh Php ng nh li dy ca trm, v c kh nng cm kch ngi khc lm nh th. Cc i thn bin cng cng lm nh th. V y l nhng li dy ca trm: cai tr theo Chnh Php, nng cao s an lc ca dn theo Chnh Php, v che ch h theo Chnh Php. ---o0o--TTrPD II Thin t, Vua Piyadasi phn rng: Chnh Php th diu ho, nhng ci g to nn Chnh Php? N gm lm lnh trnh d, nhn i, ho phng, chn tht v trong sch. Trm ban cho s sng bng nhiu cch. 59 Trm ban nhiu sc ch nhn t bao gm qu ca s sng cho nhng sinh vt hai v bn chn (ngi v th), trn khng v di nc, 60 . V cn nhiu vic thin khc do trm lm nn.

Php d ny c ghi thn dn noi theo, v n trng tn. V ai noi theo ng s lm nhiu thin nghip. ---o0o--TTrPD III Thin t, Vua Piyadasi phn rng: Ngi ta ch thy vic tt ca mnh, bo rng: "Ta lm vic thin ny." Nhng h li khng nhn thy vic xu h lm m bo rng "Ta lm ra vic c ny, iu ny gi l c nghip". Nhng s t gic rt kh thy. 61 Ngi ta nn t bo th ny:" Nhng vic ny a n iu c, n bo hnh, n hung hn, n gin d, n kiu cng v ganh t. Ta ng mc vo". V hn na, ngi ta nn ngh rng: "iu ny a n an lc trong i ny v i sau." ---o0o--TTrPD IV Thin t, Vua Piyadasi phn rng: Php d ny c ghi hai mi su nm sau khi trm ng quang. Cc quan u tnh (Rajjukas) ang cai tr dn, hng trm ngn dn. H c giao cho trng coi vic thnh cu ca dn v thi hnh cng l mt cch v t v hin h, v nh th h mi chm lo cho an sinh v phc li ca dn. Nhng h nn nhn r iu g gy ra hnh phc v kh au cho dn, v bi h hng ngng m Chnh Php, h nn khuyn khch dn lm nh th c th c an lc trong i ny v i sau. Nhng quan u tnh (Rajjukas) ny ht lng phng s trm. H cng tun lnh nhng thng quan (Purusas) hiu trm v ch th h lm trm vui lng. Cng nh mt ngi an tm giao con mnh cho v nui ng rng: "B v ny s sn sc tt con mnh," nn trm b nhim cc quan lo cho an sinh v phc li ca thn dn. Cc quan u tnh c giao cho trng coi vic thnh cu ca dn v thi hnh cng l nn h thi hnh nhim v mt cch qu quyt, hin hu v vui v, v nh th h mi chm lo cho an sinh v phc li ca dn. Trm mun rng phi c mt s cng bng trong lut php v trong vic kt ti. Trm cn i xa hn, trm mun gia n trin hn thm ba ngy cho nhng t ti trc khi hnh hnh. Trong thi gian y, thn nhn ca chng c th khiu ni khi ti cht. Nu khng cn ai khiu ni cho chng, t ti c th b th hay chay tnh c phc trong i sau. Trm thc lng mun rng, theo li ny, nu thi gian ca t ti khng cn bao lu hn cng c

th chun b cho i sau, v rng vic thc hnh Chnh Php ca dn qua t ch v b th s c gia tng trong thn dn. ---o0o--TTrPD V Thin t, Vua Piyadasi phn rng: Hai mi su nm sau khi ng quang, trm ra lnh nhng th vt sau y c triu nh bo v: kt, chim so su, ngng, vt tri, di, kin cha, ba-ba, c khng xng, 62 ra, nhm, sc, hu c gc gi, b c, th nui trong nh, t-gic, la hoang, aruna, nandimukhas, gelatas, vedareyaka, gangapuputaka, sankiya, okapinda, b cu nui hoc hoang v tt c nhng th bn chn c ch hoc khng n c. 63 Nhng d ci, tru ci, hoc heo rng ci ang nui con hoc cho con b cng c bo v. Cng th, nhng th con di su thng. G trng khng nh thin, v cy ang che ch sinh vt khng c t, v rng cy khng c t nu khng c l do hoc ch git th. Khng c dng mt con th nui con th khc. Vo ba ngy Caturmasis, 64 ba ngy trng trn Tisya 65 v vo nhng ngy 14 v 15 ca thng Uposatha, 66 c khng c git v bn. Vo nhng ngy ny th khng c git trong nhng khu bo tn voi v khu bo tn c. Vo ngy th 8 v vo ngy 14 v 15 ca thng , vo ngy Tisya, ngy Punarvasu 67, ba ngy Caturmasis v nhng ngy thnh khc, b c, d c, hu c, heo rng v nhng th khc khng c thin. Vo ngy Tisya, Punarvasu, Caturmasis v mi na thng ca thng Caturmasis, nga v b con khng c ng du nng trn da. Hai mi su nm sau khi trm ng quang, t nhn c n x trong hai mi lm dp. ---o0o--TTrPD VI Thin t, Vua Piyadasi phn rng: Mi hai nm sau khi ng quang trm cho ghi nhng Php d v an sinh v hnh phc ca thn dn, h sa i m pht trin theo Chnh Php.

Trm tin rng ch vi cch ny an sinh v hnh phc ca thn dn mi t c. Trm lun quan tm n lm cch no d bo m an sinh v hnh phc cho mi ngi, khng phi ch ring b con ca trm hoc dn sng kinh m cn c dn sng nhng vng xa xi ho lnh. Trm i x bnh ng nh th vi tt c mi ngi, mi gii. Hn na, trm tn knh mi tn gio bng mi cch cng dng nhng cch tt hn ht l trc tip thm ving h. Php d ny c ghi hai mi su nm sau khi trm ng quang. ---o0o--TTrPD VII Thin t, Vua Piyadasi phn rng: Trong qu kh cc vua ngh n nhiu cch tng s ngng m Chnh Php ca dn. Nhng d vy, s ngng m Chnh Php ca dn vn khng tng trng. V vic ny, Thin t, Vua Piyadasi phn rng: "Vic ny cng xy ra vi trm. Trong qu kh cc vua ngh n nhiu cch tng s ngng m Chnh Php ca dn. Nhng d vy, s ngng m Chnh Php ca dn vn khng tng trng. Nay phi lm sao khuyn khch thn dn tun theo? Lm th no s ngng m ca thn dn gia tng qua s truyn b Chnh Php? Lm sao trm c th nng cao h qua s truyn b Chnh Php? V vic ny, Thin t, Vua Piyadasi cn phn thm rng: "Vic ny tng xy ra vi trm. Trm phi cng b Chnh Php v ch dy Chnh Php. Khi thn dn nghe n li tuyn co v s ch dy, h s sng theo Chnh Php, t nng cao h v tin b qua s truyn b Chnh Php." V mc ch ny m trm phi cng b Chnh Php v trm phi ch dy Chnh Php bng nhiu cch, v nhng quan li c lnh phi gng truyn b v gii thch Chnh Php thc r rng. Cc quan u tnh cai tr hng trm ngn ngi c lnh nh th hng dn dn ngng m Chnh Php. Thin t, Vua Piyadasi phn rng: " Vi mc ch ny, trm cho dng nhng Php thch tr cng b Chnh Php, v b nhim cc Php i thn truyn b Chnh Php."

Thin t, Vua Piyadasi phn rng: Dc ng, trm cho trng nhiu cy a ly bng mt cho th v ngi, v trm cng cho trng vn xoi. C cch khong tm krosas, 68 trm cho o ging nc, xy nh ngh chn, v nhiu ni trm cho xy bn nc cho th v ngi dng. Nhng y ch l nhng thnh tu nh m thi. Nhng vic nh th lm cho dn vui c nhiu tin vng thc hin. Trm lm nhng iu ny ch vi mc ch l mi ngi c th hng say thc hnh Chnh Php. Thin t, Vua Piyadasi phn rng: Nhng Php i thn ca trm bn rn vi nhng cng tc gip cc bc tu hnh v c s cc tn gio. Trm ra lnh cho h nn chm lo cho i sng Tng gi. Trm ra lnh cho h nn chm lo cho i sng ca cc tu-s B-la-mn v o-s Ajivika. Trm ra lnh cho h nn chm lo cho i sng ca Niganthas. 69 Trm ra lnh cho h nn chm lo cho i sng ca cc tng phi khc. Thin t, Vua Piyadasi phn rng: Nhng i thn ny v nhng quan li quan trng khc bn rn phn pht qu tng ca trm cng nh ca cc hong hu. Trong hu cung ca trm, h cng t chc nhng sinh hot cu t khc, ngay y (kinh ) v cc chu qun. Trm cng ra lnh cho cc thi t v hong t nn ban pht qu nhng vic thin cao c ca Chnh Php v vic thc hnh Chnh Php c thng tin. Nhng vic thin cao c ca Chnh Php v vic thc hnh Chnh Php bao gm gia tng lng nhn t, ho phng qung i, chn tht, trong sch, t t v thin tm gia mi ngi. Thin t, Vua Piyadasi phn rng: Nhng vic thin g trm lm, u c thn dn noi theo v thc hin. Nh vy m h tin b v cn tip tc tin b qua s tn knh cha m, tn knh cc bc trng thng, l php vi ngi gi v t t vi cc bc tu hnh, vi ngi ngho, k kh v ngay c vi n t v gia nhn. Thin t, Vua Piyadasi phn rng: Nhng tin b ny ca thn dn qua Chnh Php c thc hin bng hai cch, bi nhng qui nh Chnh Php v bi thuyt phc. Nhng qui nh Chnh Php th khng c hiu qu my, trong khi thuyt phc th hiu qu hn nhiu. Nhng qui nh Chnh Php trm ban chang hn nh phi bo v mt s th, v nhiu qui nh Chnh Php khc. Nhng ch bng thuyt phc th tin b ca thn dn qua Chnh Php c nhiu hiu qu hn lin quan n khng hnh h sinh vt v khng st sinh.

V vic ny, Thin t, Vua Piyadasi phn rng: u c thch tr hay mt th y Php d c khc ghi n trng tn n i con chu trm, v cn di lu nh mt tri v mt trng cn soi sng thn dn thc hnh theo li dy Chnh Php. Bi qua thc hnh Chnh Php th an lc mi c trong i ny v i sau. Php d ny c ghi hai mi by nm sau khi trm ng quang. ---o0o--E. Tiu Thch Tr Php D TTTrPD I (Cn gi l Thch Tr Php D Rummindei) Hai mi nm sau khi ng quang, Thin t, Vua Piyadasi ving thm v l bi ni ny bi v y l ni c Pht Thch Ca, Bc Gic Ng ra i. 70 Thin t cho xy mt tng bao bc xung quanh v dng mt thch tr. 71 V v c Th Tn n sinh y, lng Lumbini 72 c min thu v ch ng mt phn tm nng sn. ---o0o--TTTrPD II (Cn gi l Php d Sanchi, hay Allahabad) Thin t, Vua Piyadasi lnh cho i thn cai tr Kosambi rng: chia r tng- gikhng c thu nhn vo tng-gi na.
73

K no

Tng-gi ca t-khu hay tng-gi ca t-khu ni nay c ha hp, tip tc ha hp cho n i con v chu ca trm, v cn di lu nh mt tri v mt trng cn soi sng. K no, d l t-khu hay t-khu-ni, quy ri trong tng gi b buc phi mc bch y 74 v khng c sng trong tnh x. 75 c mun ca trm l tng-gi ha hp v trng tn mi mi. ---o0o--TTTrPD III (Cn gi l Php d Sarnath) [..] 76 khng ai c gy xo trn tng-gi.

Nu mt t-khu hay mt t-khu-ni quy ri trong tng gi, tng hay ni y phi b buc phi mc bch y v khng c sng trong tnh x. Php d ny phi c cng b trong tng-gi ca t-khu v trong tng gi ca t-khu-ni. Thin t, Vua Piyadasi phn rng: Treo mt bn ca Php d ny trong hnh lang ca tnh x; trao mt bn cho tt c tn . Tn phi t hp mi ngy chay hc tp v Php d ny. Mi quan li phi thng xuyn n d mi ngy chay lm quen v hiu rnh r Php d ny. Li na, ngi (ch v quan u tnh) phi ra lnh xung khp ni thi hnh nghim chnh Php d ny. Cc ph quan thuc quyn ca ngi cng phi lm nh th khp cc chu huyn. ---o0o--F. Php D Hang ng Karna Chaupar Mi chn nm sau khi ng quang, Thin t, Vua Piyadasi 77 tng hang ng ny, trong dy i th mng Khalatika, khng h b ngp nc vo ma ma. Trn Trc-Lm Seattle, trng thu 2001

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Ti Liu Tham Kho

1. Ven. S. Dhammika, "The Edicts of King Asoka" Buddhist Publication Society, Kandy, Sri Lanka, 1993 2. Nayarayanrao Appurao Nikam v Richard McKeon, "The Edicts of Asoka", The University of Chicago Press, 1959. 3. Kenoyer, J.M., "Ancient Cities of the Indus Valley Civilization", Oxford University Press, Oxford, New York, Delhi, 1998.

4. Possehl, G.L., "Indus Age; The Beginnings", Oxford and IBH Publishing, New Delhi, 1999. 5. Possehl, G.L., "Harappan Civilization: a Recent Perspective", Oxford and IBH Publications, New Delhi, 1993. 6. Possehl, G.L, "Indus Age - The Writing" Oxford and IBH Publications, New Delhi, 1999. 7. Shaffer, J.G., "The Indo-Aryan Invasions: Cultural myth and Archaeological Reality" in "The People of South Asia" edited by J.R. Lukas, Plenum Press, New York, 1984. 8. Chris J.D. Kostman, M.A., "The Demise of Utopia: Contexts of Civilizational Collapse in the Bronze Age Indus Valley", JAGNES, the Journal of the Association of Graduates in Near Eastern Studies, 2001. 9. Romila Thapar, "Languages and Scripts of Asoka's Inscriptions". Microsoft Encarta DVD, 2001. 10. John Snelling, "The Buddhist Handbook", B&N, NY. 1991. ---o0o--HT

Bia k Girnar, ban vo nm 257 TTL. Bn Nikam cn vit l vua Priyadarsi. Trong cc Php d, i Asoka lun t xng l Thin t, Vua Piyadasi. 2 . Bia k Girnar, ban vo nm 257 TTL. 3 . Dn Cholas vPandyas pha nam ngoi quc do vua Asoka cai tr. The Dn Satiyaputras v Keralaputras sng cn duyn vng ty nam. Tamraparni l tn c ca Tch Lan (Sri Lanka). Antiyoka tc l Antiochos II Theos ca x Syria (261-246 TTL). 4 . Asoka thc hnh li dy ca c Pht trong Samyutta Nikaya (Tng ng B Kinh), I:33. 5 . Bia k Girnar, ban vo nm 257 TTL. 6 . Bn Dhammika: Khng c ti liu no tn ti cho bit r chc nng ca cc v quan ny. Bn Nikam: l cc quan cai tr huyn (Yuktas), tnh (Rajjukas) v kinh (Pradesikas). 7 . Bn Nikam: "priests and ascetics"; Bn Dhammika: "Brahmans and ascetics": "tu-s (B-la-mn) v o s kh hnh", ch cho gii tu hnh thi by gi. o-s kh hnh gm c cc kht s Pht gio, Ajivika v K na gio. 8 . Bia k Girnar, ban vo nm 257 TTL. 9 . Bn Dhammika: mun ni n ting trng nh ln khi triu nh trng pht nhng k phm php. Bn Nikam: l ting trng trn. NXR: kin ca Nikam v McKeon c v ng hn. 10 . Bn Dhammika: Ging nh mi ngi trong thi c i, Asoka tin rng di s cai tr ca mt minh qun th nhiu im lnh xut hin. NXR: Bn dch ca Nikam v McKeon v on ny khng st bng bn ca HT. S. Dhammika. 11 . Bia k Kalsi, ban nm 256 TTL. 12 . Theo liPht dy trong "Php C" (Dhammapada), cu 163.
1

Dn Hy-lp (Yonas), nh c ng o vng m nay l Afghanistan vPakistan sau cuc xm lng ca Alexander the Great. 14 . Trong hai bn u dch l "householders: gia trng". NXR: C l Asoka mun ni n gii c s. Theo chng ti, dch l "c s" th ng vi tinh thn Php d hn. 15 . Bia k Girnar, ban vo nm 256 TTL. 16 . Bia k Girnar, ban vo nm 256 TTL. 17 . Bn Nikam li dch l: [Ngay c k khng cng dng c phm vt xa x, khng bit t ch v lng khng trong sch, khng c n tnh, v tn tm vng chc vn ng khen vcn thit 18 . Vihar-yatras. Bia k Girnar, ban vo nm 256 TTL y vua Asoka dng "Thin t" ch cho cc tin vng. 19 . Bn Dhammika: Thi by gi c tn l Sambodhi hay Vijirasana ch khng gi l Bodh Gaya nh ngy nay. 20 . Bn Nikam li dch on ny nh sau: "Tuy nhin, vua Priyadarsi gic ng (sambuddha) mi nm sau ngy ng quang, nn t nhng chuyn tun du ca ngi c gi l Php du hnh."
13

Bn Nikam dch: "Nhng chuyn Php du hnh ny lm vua Priyadarsi rt vui lng hn nhng chuyn khc." 22 . Bia k Kalsi, ban nm 256 TTL. Asoka ngh n Mangala Sutta (Sutta Nipata 258269) khi ban Php d ny.
21

23

. Bn Dhammika: "cng nhn v gia nhn".

.

24

25

Nhiu bn chm dt ngang y. . Bia k Girnar, Dhauli v Jaugada li thm on ny.

Bia k Girnar, ban vo nm 256 TTL. . Bn Dhammika dch on ny nh sau: "Tt c mi n lc ca trm ch nhm n an sinh trong i sau cho thn dn, v h khng vng c nghip. V phc c l c nghip. Tht l vic kh lm cho k hn h v ngi cao sang tr phi h tn lc v t b tham vng. Li cng kh bi phn vi ngi cao sang (hn l vi k hn h)." 28 . Bia k Girnar, ban vo nm 256 TTL. 29 . Dharma-dana: n th Chnh Php. Tng t "Php C" (Dhammapada) cu 354. 30 . Bia k Girnar, ban vo nm 256 TTL.
26 27

Nguyn bn: "saravadi"dch l "tinh ty tn gio" c ngha l "phm cht o hnh". 32 . Theo Bn Dhammika, vn da vo bn bng ting Pal, dch theo cu "Ta samavayo eva sadhu"; m "Samavayo" chit t ra th c "sam + ava + i", c ngha l "n vi nhau". 33 . Bia k Kalsi, ban nm 256 TTL. Kalinga, by gi l bang Orissa.
31

Thi by gi Asoka ngh rng Hy-Lp l x v tn gio. . Bn Nikam dch: "By gi, vua Priyarsi ngh rng k phm li vi Ngi nn c tha th nu li y c th tha th c." 36 . C th Asoka ngh n "Php C" cu 103-104. 37 . Khong ba ngn dm. 38 . Theo th t, l cc vua Antiochos II Theos ca Syria (261-246 TTL), Ptolemy II Philadelphos ca Egypt (285-247 TTL), Antigonos Gonatos ca Macedonia (278-239 TTL), Magas ca Cyrene (300-258 TTL) v Alexander ca Epirus (272-258 TTL). 39 . Xem ghi ch 3. 40 . Xem ghi ch 13.
34 35

Bia k Girnar, ban vo nm 256 TTL. . Bia k Dhauli, ban nm 256 TTL. Hai Php d Kalinga ch tm thy c Dhauli v Jaugada. 43 . Bn Dhammika: cn vit l Tisa; l ngy rm, trng trn.
41 42

Bia k Jaugada, ban nm 256 TTL. 45 . Bn Dhammika dch on ny nh sau: "Bng vo vic ch dy v cho cc ngi bit v lng quyt tm v li cam kt ca trm, trm s t mnh quan tm t n mc tiu ny." 46 . n c 3 ma: nng, ma v lnh. Ngy Tisya: xem ghi ch 42.
44

Bia k Gavimath, ban nm 257 TTL. Php d ny tm thy 12 ni khc nhau, vi ni dung khng ng nht. c bit l ch trong Php D Maski ni vi Tng Gi ny i mi xng thc danh l Asoka (Asokaraja). 48 . Nhiu hc gi khi dch on Pali "yam me samghe upeti" ( vo Tng gi), hiu nhm, cho l ai Asoka tr nn mt t-khu (tng s).
47

Nhiu bn khc dch st nguyn ng l "men unmingled with Gods: ngi khng ha ln vi Tri". Hai bn Nikam v Dhammika dch " the people who have not associated with the gods." 50 . Bn Nikam dch l "k giu v ngi ngho". Ni chung l u bnh ng trong Chnh Php.
49

Bn Nikam dch on ny nh sau: [ ci Dim-Ph- (Jambudvipa), tri vn khng ha ln vi ngi, nay ha ln vi h. Nhng nhng kt qu trm thu t ch bng ca (ngay c) ngi ngho nu h ngng m Chnh Php. Thc khng ng nu ni rng iu ny ch dnh cho k giu. K giu v ngi ngho u phi c bo rng: "Nu cc ngi lm nh th th nhng thnh tu ng ca tng ny s trng tn v s gia tng mt ln ri." 52 . Bn Nikam khng dch on ny. 53 . Bia k Brahmagiri. 54 . Php d ny c tm thy trn mt tng nh gn thnh ph Bairat, v nay c bo tn trong Hip Hi Chu Calcutta. 55 . Cu ny da vo mt on trong Kinh Tng Nht A-Hm (Anguttara Nikaya, IV:164.) " ... tht l diu ngn, nhng li do c Th Tn thuyt." 56 . Bn Nikam dch: "Cho php trm lit k nhng bn kinh phn nh Diu Chnh Php, v lm Chnh php trng tn." 57 . c nhiu tho lun v nhng bn kinh Pali no tng ng vi trch dn ca vua Asoka:1) Vinaya samukose (Skt.: Vinaya samukasa: Xng Tng v Tr Gii): c th l
51

Atthavasa Vagga, Anguttara Nikaya, 1:98-100. 2) Aliya vasani (Skt.: Aliya vasani: Mu Mc v i o Hnh): c th l Ariyavasa Sutta, Anguttara Nikaya, V:29, hoc Ariyavamsa Sutta, Anguttara Nikaya, II: 27-28. 3) Anagata bhayani (Skt.: Anagatabhayani: u Lo v Tng Lai) : c th l Anagata Sutta, Anguttara Nikaya, III:100. 4) Muni gatha (Skt.: Muni-gatha: Bi Ca o S): l Muni Sutta, Sutta Nipata 207-221. 5) Upatisa pasine (Skt.: Upatisya-pasine: Bi Ging v Cuc Sng Thnh Thin): l Sariputta Sutta, Sutta Nipata 955-975. V 6) Laghulavade (Skt.: Rahulavada: Bi ging v vng ng cho La-Hu-La): l Rahulavada Sutta, Majjhima Nikaya, I:421. By Php d ny dch t bia k Dehli Topra, su bn u c ban ra nm 243 TTL v cn thy trn nm thch tr khc. Bn th by c ban ra nm 242 TTL. 59 . Theo ting Pali: "Cakhu dane" c ngha l "Trm ban cho s thy". C th l vua Asoka ban cho "con mt tr tu"; nhng t n vo ton b Php d th c v nh l Asoka ra lnh ngng li hnh pht lm m mt. 60 . C ngha l ngng st sinh. 61 . Tng t nh li Pht dy trong "Php C" (Dhammapada) cu 50 v 252. 62 . C th l tm, cua. 63 . Hai bn Dhammika v Nikam vn nhng tn th theo nguyn ng, khng dch c. 64 . Ngy u ma. Xem 45. 65 . Ngy Tisya: xem 42. NXR: y ch qui nh ngy trng trn ca thng u mi ma. 66 . Thng an c kit h 67 . ngy l hi 68 . Khong 1 mile. 69 . Tu s K-na gio (Jaina hay Jains). Gio ch l Makkhali Gosala, cng thi vi c Pht Thch Ca. 70 . Li ghi ny c khc trn mt thch tr ti Lumbini vo nm 249 TTL. 71 . Bn Dhammika: "Thin t cho tc tng v dng mt thch tr." 72 . Nay c gi l Rummindei. 73 . Phn u ca Php d ny b h hng; ch c cu "chia r" cn c c m thi. Ngi ta phi da vo nhng Php d ni khc c c ton b ni dung ca Php d ny. 74 . Ch tng v ni mi c mc y vng.
58

Anabasasi. . Ba dng u ca Php d b h hng. Nhng mnh cn st c c cho ngi ta gi rng Vua Piyadasi (Asoka) lnh cho cc quan phi ngn nga nhng k quy ri trong tng gi. Bn Dhammika khng c Php D ny.
75 76

77

. Bn Dhammika khng cPhp d ny. Dy i Barabar (thi Asoka gi l

Khalatika) c 7 ng: 4 i Barabar, 3 i Nagarjuni. 5 ng c tng cho cc o s Ajivika lm ni c tr.