Mahasthan inscription
Topic: The Mauryan Empire · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
The Mahasthan inscription is a Mauryan-period record found at Mahasthangarh in Bogra district, Bangladesh. It is written in Prakrit in the Brahmi script on limestone. It deals with helping people in distress, probably during a famine, through relief from the state stores. It also shows that Mauryan administration reached Bengal in the east.
Example
The inscription is addressed to an officer at Pundranagara (ancient Mahasthangarh). It orders relief for people in distress and asks that the stores be refilled when times are good again. It is one of the oldest inscriptions found in Bangladesh.
Don't confuse with
- Sohgaura copper plate: also about stores kept against famine, but it is engraved on copper and comes from Uttar Pradesh. The Mahasthan inscription is on stone and comes from Bangladesh.
Related concepts
- Ashokan edicts
- Piyadassi
- Kandahar bilingual inscription
- Shahbazgarhi and Mansehra edicts
- Maski edict
- Girnar rock edict
- R. Shamasastry
- Sohgaura copper plate