To culminate this silliness, Ananda is then called upon to disclose this "wisdom of the unseen world," because, being Buddha's chief disciple, he is the only one who knows much about it. The Bible of the "Carriage that drives Nowhere" is the chief book discussed, the Brahmajâla Sûtra, which Hoa Yen, the greatest Chinese authority (_see_ Rémusat, "Pilgrimage of Fa Hian," p. 108), says is distinctly a "Great Vehicle" scripture. In it Buddha discusses every conceivable theory about the next world, and contradicts them all. Could such an insane Bible, in a few years, have tumbled to pieces the great priesthoods of India, China, Persia? We now come to King Asoka, a monarch whose dominions stretched from Grândhâra, or Peshawur, to Chola and Pândiya, the extreme southern provinces of India. On the extreme west he cut a rock-inscription at Girnar, on the Gulf of Cutch. On the east coast at Ganjam were the Dhauli and Jaugada inscriptions. His rule was a broad one. He became a convert to Buddhism, and made it the official creed. He carved his "Edicts" on rocks and stone columns. Let us see from them whether early Buddhism was the atheism and negation of an immortal life that is depicted in popular treatises. He is called Devânampiya, the friend of the spirits. KING ASOKA'S IDEAS ABOUT GOD. "Much longing after the things [of this life] is a disobedience, I again declare; not less so is the laborious ambition of dominion by a prince who would be a propitiator of Heaven. Confess and believe in God [Isâna], who is the worthy object of obedience. For equal to this [belief], I declare unto you, ye shall not find such a means of propitiating Heaven. Oh, strive ye to obtain this inestimable treasure." (First separate Edict, Dhauli, Prinsep.) "Thus spake King Devânampiya Piyadasi:--The present moment and the past have departed under the same ardent hopes. How by the conversion of the royal born may religion be increased? Through the conversion of the lowly born if religion thus increaseth, by how much [more] through the conviction of the high born and their conversion shall religion increase? Among whomsoever the name of God resteth, verily this is religion." "Thus spake Devânampiya Piyadasi:--Wherefore from this very hour I have caused religious discourses to be preached. I have appointed religious observances that mankind, having listened thereto, shall be brought to follow in the right path, and give glory to God." (Edict No. vii., Prinsep.) ASOKA ON A FUTURE LIFE. "On the many beings over whom I rule I confer happiness in this world; in the next they may obtain Swarga [paradise]." (Edict vi., Wilson.) "This is good. With these means let a man seek Swarga. This is to be done. By these means it is to be done, as by them Swarga [paradise] is to be gained." (Edict ix., Wilson.)