Who among the following rulers advised his subjects through this inscription?
“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.”
Explanation
This famous edict on religious tolerance and ecumenism is inscribed in Major Rock Edict XII of Emperor Ashoka (Piyadasi):
– Ashoka proclaimed that true growth in the essentials of all religions requires restraint in speech: not praising one’s own faith while disparaging the doctrines of others without valid cause.
– He cautioned that uncritical glorification of one’s own sect out of narrow sectarian pride ends up injuring one’s own religion far more severely.
– He emphasized mutual concord (samavaya), advocating that people of all religious persuasions should listen to and learn from each other’s ethical teachings.
Therefore, the ruler was Ashoka — Option A.