Question 30
"Whosoever praises his religious sect or blames other sects out of excessive devotion to his own sect, with the view of glorifying his own sect, he rather injures his own sect very severely."
AOptions
BSolution
The inscription quoted in the question is a well-known extract from Major Rock Edict XII of Ashoka. In this edict, Ashoka expresses his policy of religious tolerance and respect for all sects. He advises his subjects to honor all religions and warns against excessive devotion to one's own sect leading to the condemnation of others. Ashoka, through his policy of Dhamma, emphasized mutual respect, understanding, and non-violence among different religious and social groups, making this quote perfectly align with his principles as reflected in his edicts.
CStrategy
Identifying the author of famous quotes or inscriptions requires familiarity with the core philosophies and administrative principles of prominent historical rulers. Ashoka's edicts are a significant part of ancient Indian history and his emphasis on Dhamma and religious tolerance is a distinctive feature.
DSyllabus Analysis
This question falls under Ancient Indian History, specifically the Mauryan Empire and the philosophy and policies of Emperor Ashoka, as reflected in his edicts.
EQuestion Analysis
Medium. While Ashoka's edicts are well-studied, recalling the exact sentiment and associating it with the specific ruler requires good retention of historical details.