Question

In which edict or inscription, Ashoka declared his faith in Buddha, Dhamma, and Samgha and called Buddha the Bhagavat?

a. Maski Minor Rock Edict
b. Rummindei Pillar Edict
c. Sarnath Pillar Edict
d. Bhabra Minor Rock Edict

Answer 1

Hint:
 Ashoka was the chief emperor of the Maurian dynasty of India. His vigorous patronage of Buddhism during his rule led to the spread of that religion in India. Following his successful yet bloody conquest of the Kalinga nation on the east coast, Ashoka renounced armed conquest and adopted a strategy he called "Dharma Conquest" that is by principles of right life.

Complete solution:
To obtain broad attention for his teachings and his work, Ashoka made them known through oral announcements and engravings on rocks and pillars at suitable locations. These inscriptions—the stone edicts and pillar edicts (e.g., the lion capital of the pillar found at Sarnath, which became the national emblem of India), often dated during the various years of his reign contain claims about his thoughts and acts and provide information about his life and actions. His utterances were frank and sincere. In the Bairat or Bhabra Minor Rock Edict, Ashoka proclaimed his trust in Buddha, Dhamma, and Samgha and named Buddha Bhagavat. It's in Rajasthan near Jaipur. In this edict, Ashoka refers to himself as Piyadassi laja Magadha (Piyadassi, King of Magadha).

According to his accounts, in the eighth year of his rule, Ashoka conquered the nation of Kalinga (the modern state of Orissa). The sufferings inflicted on the vanquished citizens by the war led him to such remorse that he renounced armed conquests. It was at this time that he came into contact with and embraced Buddhism. Under his influence and influenced by his complex disposition, he chose to live according to and teach, the dharma, and to serve his subjects and all humanity.

Hence, the correct answer is option D.

Note:
Ashoka consistently claimed that he considered dharma to be the energetic practice of the socio-moral virtues of fairness, truthfulness, kindness, mercy, benevolence, non-violence, thoughtful conduct towards all, "little sin and many good deeds," non-extravagance, non-activity, and non-injury to animals. He spoke of no specific mode of religious belief or worship, nor any philosophical doctrine. He only talked of Buddhism to his coreligionists and not to others.