| The root of
wealth is activity, and the evil is its reverse. His
conception of kingly obligations is indeed noble and commendable. By
working thus, he said, he would discharge his debt to the public. He
caused all such moral ideals engraved on the rocks and set them up
at various places in his kingdom, to educate his subjects into a
divine way of life.
He
craved and strove more for the moral elevation, leading to perpetual
happiness above, than the material prosperity below. He endeavored
for the moral development of the people first and last, both in
India and abroad.
Judged
on the basis of these enlightened acts and reforms, it can be
asserted without any doubt of contradiction that Asoka was centuries
ahead of his time in carrying out the welfare activities among the
citizens of far-off countries, at the expense and labour of the home
state. Grand! Magnanimous!! Unheard of by any or in any age!!!
Hence he was defied!
|
