RAS question
The Bhabru (Bairat) rock edict of Ashoka is significant because it:
Correct answer: (A) Declares Ashoka's faith in Buddhism and recommends specific Buddhist texts.
The Bhabru or Bairat Rock Edict is significant because Ashoka affirms his faith in Buddha, Dharma and Sangha, and recommends seven Buddhist Dharma texts for study.
Explanation
The Bhabru (Bairat) edict matters because it is the Ashokan inscription that makes Ashoka's Buddhist commitment explicit rather than merely implying it through general moral policy. It is the only Ashokan edict where Ashoka declares faith in Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha, and recommends seven specific Buddhist texts for study. The University of Cambridge Apollo Repository text records the same core point: the Bairat (Bhabru) Edict records Ashoka's faith and reverence for Buddha, Dharma and Sangha, states that what Buddha spoke was well spoken, and commends seven Dharma texts for constant perusal by monks, nuns, laymen and laywomen. That is why option A captures the edict's historical significance.
Why the other options are wrong
- (B) The edict is about Ashoka's Buddhist faith and recommended Dharma texts, not a description of trade routes through Rajasthan.
- (C) The edict belongs to Ashoka's Mauryan context, while the option's Jaipur claim is anachronistic because Jaipur was founded in 1727.
- (D) The material discusses Ashoka's reverence for Buddha, Dharma and Sangha and the seven texts, not a list of military conquests.
Concept
This tests the RAS Rajasthan history theme of Ashokan inscriptions found in Rajasthan and their evidentiary value. It recurs because Bairat links local Rajasthan sites with wider Mauryan religious and cultural history.