This earth, of hills the everlasting throne,
This earth, of all creation mother fair,
I give to the Assembly.The blessing which attends such gift be mine;
Not Indra’s halls nor Brahma’s courts I crave,
Nor yet the splendours which round monarchs shine,
And pass away, like rushing Gangâs wave,
Abiding not a moment.With faith unchangeable, which nought can shake,
This gift of Earth's immeasurable sphere
I to the Saints' Assembly freely make;
And self-control I crave, of boons most dear,
A good which changeth never[1].
King Asoka, having thus spoken, sealed the deed of gift, and presently fulfilled the law of mortality.
The forty millions of gold pieces which yet remained to complete King Asokafs vow for the gift of a thousand
- ↑ According to Fa-hien (chapter xxvii), this gift of the empire was recorded in an inscription on a stone pillar to the south of Pâtaliputra. The site of the pillar has not been identified with certainty. The speech of Asoka in prose is as follows:—
'This earth, which ocean enwraps in a glorious garment of sapphire, this earth whereof the face is adorned with mines of diverse jewels, this earth, which supports all creatures and Mount Madam, I give to the Assembly.
‘As the reward of this good deed I desire not to dwell in the palace of Indra, nor yet in that of Brahma, nor do I in any wise desire the felicity of kingship, which, quicker even than running water, passes away and is gone.
‘The reward which I crave for the perfect faith whereby I make this gift is that self-control which the saints honour, and which is a good exempt from change.'
