# Second Aramaic inscription of Laghman

The Second Aramaic inscription of Laghman, also known as the Langhman II Inscription, is an inscription on a slab of natural rock in the area of Laghman, Afghanistan, written in Aramaic by the Indian emperor Ashoka about 260 BCE, and often categorized as one of the Minor Rock Edicts of Ashoka. The inscription was published by G D Davary in 1973–1974. The Second Aramaic Inscription from Laghman, dating back to the tenth year of Ashoka's reign, marks the royal conversion to Buddhism as such. The inscription highlights vanity repudiation and prohibits fishing.

## Epigraphical context

The Aramaic inscriptions in Pakistan and Afghanistan mark the eastern boundary of pre-Christian Aramaico and are translations of the Buddhist edicts by King Ashoka Priyadarśī. The Taxila and Pul-i Darunteh inscriptions and the two from Kandahar lend credence to this link. The preservation must, however, be balanced against a philology lacking some characteristics of truly Aramaic words and a somewhat peculiar syntax indicative of developing into Middle Iranian dialects. The interpretation of 1969 is often that the Laghman inscription represents currently given the overall need to test textual readings in ongoing debates within the scientific community. Further data gathering and field study will be essential to clarify readings.

## Inscription

In comparison to other inscriptions, the Langhman II inscription seems to be made with less precision and care. This fact might contribute weight to the belief that it had little to do with the actual rock edicts and moral or religious efforts of Ashoka Priyadarśi, although it is dated to his reign. In all likelihood, the author of the inscription wants to commemorate a successful lawsuit that he either argued against the person he names at the end or presented in that person's court and successfully established his claim to an estate adjacent to the location of the inscription.
The second inscription, is engraved on a rock that is located halfway up a hill against the valley backdrop. It is composed of ten lines and content, and its place of discovery closely resembles the first Laghman inscription. Since both inscriptions are shallowly incised and weathered, difficulty in decipherment is frankly confessed.
Each begins with a date mentioning "Priyadrasi the king," the tenth year for Laghman I and the sixteenth for Laghman II, which otherwise incorporates an Irano-Aramaic formula: B'LWL m'h SNT 16. Both speak of a royal ban against harming fish and other animals, and the next text is very obscure except for place names that seem to refer to places that may have served as guide marks.
Finally, both inscriptions end with the name Wašu (w'sw), probably an official who had approved these. Laghman II also includes whšwprtbg, an Iranian personal name, which perhaps represents a link with Bactria, which accesses this via the ancient highway next to the site.
   (Line 1-5) "In the month [of] Elul [of] the year 16 king Priyadarsi scattered abundantly (i.e. dispersed) [and] pushed out of (or expelled from) the prosperous [population] [those who] rush [after] what is hunting of fishes and creatures [and] the lovers of what (i.e. that which) is worthless (or empty) work."
   (Line 5-8)"500 (?) bows [measure] this mountain named 'hwty. This road [is] Krpty (Karapathi), [so] it is said. Towards the garden [the disance is] 300 [bows]. Trt' is [from] here 13 [bows]. The height [of the mountain] is 200 [bows]" [or "Trt' is [from] here 13 [bows] in addition to 200 [bows]"].
   (Line 8-9) "The scribe..... with (i.e. together with) W'su the judge [and] the pure [one]."
   (Line 10) "Whsu, the dispenser of meritorious work, the governor the pure [one] [and] (settler of guilt and punishment ?)."