The legend of king Asoka/ John S. Strong

PART ONE. ASOKA AND HIS LEGEND
Chapter One. The Legend and Its Background
The Legends and the Edicts
A Synopsis of the Asokavaddna
The Sanskrit and Pali Recensions of the Legend
The World of the Asokavaddna
Buddhism in Mathura and Beyond
Conclusion
Chapter Two. Dirt and D.harma; Kingship in the
Asokavaddna
Asoka the Fierce
The Myth of the Cakravartin
Asoka and the Cakravartin Ideal
- The Gift of Dirt
The Gift of Dirt and the Gift of Honey
Conclusion
Chapter Tliree. King and Layman: Asoka's
Relationship to the Buddhist Community
Asoka and Samudra
Asoka and Upagupta
Asoka and Pindola Bharadvaja
Asoka and Yasas
Asoka's Offerings to the Sangha
TTie Great Quinquennial Festival
The Gift of Half a Myrobalan
Conclusion
Chapter Four. Asoka and the Buddha
Dharmakaya and Rupakaya
The Building of the 84,000 Stupas
Asoka's Pilgrimage
Asoka and the Bodhi Tree
The Asoka Tree
Conclusion
Chapter Five. Asoka: Master of Good Means and
Merit Maker
Asoka and his Brother Vitasoka
Asoka and his Minister Yasas
Cosmological Vision
The Doctrine of Essence
Essence and Merit Making
Conclusion
Conspectus
PART TWO. THE LEGEND OF ASOKA: A TRANSLATION
OF THE A^OKAVADANA
Introduction to the Translation
The Legend of Asoka
Prologue
Upagupta's Past Life
The Sanakavasin Episode
The Story of Vasavadatta
Upagupta's Ordination
Upagupta and Mara
The Gift of Dirt
The Buddha's Smile
Asoka's Birth
Asoka's Accession
Asoka the Fierce
Samudra and Asoka's Conversion
TTie 84,000 Stupas
The Legend of VTtasoka
VTtasoka's Death
Vltasoka's Past Life
Asoka and His Minister Yasas
The Meeting of Asoka and Upagupta
Asoka's Pilgrimage
The Stupas of the Buddha's Disciples
The Worship of Bodhi
Pindola Bharadvaja
The Quinquennial Festival
The Birth of Kunala
The Taksasila Uprising and Asoka's Illness
Kunala's Blinding and Enlightenment
Kunala's Return
Kunala's Past Life
Asoka's Last Gift
Pusyamitra and the End of the Mauryan Line