Which Buddhist text contains an account of the Mauryan Emperor Ashoka?
- A.Vinaya Pitaka
- B.Sutta Pitaka
- C.Abhidhamma Pitaka
- D.Mahavamsa
Correct answer
Explanation
The correct answer is D, Mahavamsa. The Mahavamsa, the great Pali chronicle of Sri Lanka, gives a detailed account of Ashoka, his conversion to Buddhism and his missions abroad.
The Mahavamsa was composed in Sri Lanka around the fifth or sixth century CE and is traditionally credited to the monk Mahanama. Along with the older Dipavamsa, it describes Ashoka's early life, the Third Buddhist Council held at Pataliputra under Moggaliputta Tissa, and the sending of his son Mahinda and daughter Sanghamitra to Sri Lanka to spread the faith. Another important text on Ashoka, the Ashokavadana, comes from the Sanskrit Buddhist tradition. These sources are read alongside Ashoka's own edicts.
Option A is wrong because the Vinaya Pitaka contains the rules of discipline for monks and nuns. Option B is wrong because the Sutta Pitaka is a collection of the Buddha's sermons and dialogues. Option C is wrong because the Abhidhamma Pitaka deals with Buddhist philosophy and psychology. All three Pitakas were compiled long before Ashoka's reign and do not narrate his life.
Exam tip: Ashoka in Buddhist chronicles = Dipavamsa and Mahavamsa (Sri Lanka) and Ashokavadana; Tripitaka = Vinaya, Sutta, Abhidhamma.
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