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Everything Everywhere Daily · Thursday, July 9, 2026

Ashoka's Edicts and Pillars: Spreading Dharma Across Ancient India

Emperor Ashoka erected numerous pillars and carved edicts into natural rock formations across India to disseminate his code of Dharma, which emphasized non-violence, tolerance, and humane treatment. These messages were also found in regional languages like Greek and Aramaic, extending their reach beyond India.

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The tape

3 quotes
Ashoka erected dozens of 50-ton, 50-foot pillars across various parts of India. Approximately 25 of these pillars still stand today.
And in addition to the pillars, scribes carved these edicts and codes into natural features such as boulders and rock cliffs.
Archaeologists have found edicts written in regional languages, including Greek and Aramaic, along trade routes leading towards modern-day Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Heard on Everything Everywhere Daily — “Ashoka the Great, published Thursday, July 9, 2026. Heardvine summarizes and quotes with attribution and timestamps, and links to the original everywhere.
Transcribed via Gemini audio transcription · $0.01
Ashoka's Edicts and Pillars: Spreading Dharma Across Ancient India — Heardvine