• Prohibits animal slaughter.
• Bans festive gatherings and killings of animals.
• Only two peacocks and one deer were killed in Asoka’s kitchen.
• He wished to discontinue this practice of killing two peacocks and one deer as well.
• Mention the name Devanampriya Priyadarsin.

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• Provides for care for man and animals, describes recipients as the Chola, Pandyas, Satyapura and Cheras Kingdoms of South India, and the Greek king Antiochus II and his neighbours
• Mention the name Devanampriya Priyadarsin
• Mention the river “Tamraparani” in South India.
• “The Greek king Antiochos”, namely Antiochus II, ruler of the Seleucid Empire, is mentioned in Major Rock Edict No.2, as a recipient of Ashoka’s medical services.
• Everywhere two (kinds of) medical men were established by king Devanampriya Priyadarsin, (viz.) medical treatment for men and medical treatment for cattle.

• Generosity to Brahmans.
• Issued after 12 years of Asoka’s coronation.
• It says that the Yuktas (subordinate officers) and Pradesikas (district Heads) along with Rajukas (Rural officers) shall go to the all areas of kingdom every five years and spread the Dhamma Policy of Asoka.

• Dhammaghosa is ideal to the mankind and not the Bherighosa (War Drum).
• Impact of Dhamma on society.

• Concerns about the policy towards slaves.
• He mentions in this rock edict “Every Human is my child”.
• Appointment of Dhammamahamatras is mentioned in this edict.

• Describes King’s desire to get informed about the conditions of the people constantly. Talks about welfare measures.

• Requests tolerance for all religions – “To foster one’s own sect, depreciating the others out of affection for one’s own, to exalt its merit, is to do the worst harm to one’s own sect.”

• Describes Asoka’s first Dhamma Yatra to Bodhgaya & Bodhi Tree.
• It is thought that Ashoka built in Bodh Gaya the Diamond Throne, in order to mark the place where the Buddha reached enlightenment.
• Ashoka went to Bodh Gaya (“Sambodhi”) in the 11th year of his reign.

• Condemns popular ceremonies. Stress in ceremonies of Dhamma.

• Condemns the desire for fame and glory. Stresses on popularity of Dhamma.

• Elaborates Dhamma Major

• It mentions Mahamattas in charge of women’s welfare
• Directed and determined request for tolerance among different religious sects.
• Also written in Greek in the Kandahar Greek Edict of Ashoka

• It is the largest inscription from the edict.
• It talks about the Ashoka’s victory over Kalinga and also mentions about the high number of casualties in that war. 
• King considered the victory by “Dhamma” to be the foremost victory; mentions the victory of “Dhamma” where the Greek being named Amtiyoga or Amtiyaka.
• It also mentions the victory of Dhamma in south India among the Cholas and Pandyas, as far as Ceylon.
• Mentions victory over Kalinga. Mentions Ashoka’s Dhamma victory over Greek Kings Antiochus of Syria (Amtiyoko), Ptolemy of Egypt (Turamaye), Magas of Cyrene (Maka), Antigonus of Macedon (Amtikini), Alexander of Epirus (Alikasudaro).
• Also mentions Pandyas, Cholas, etc.
• About Kshatriyas.
• This edict was also written in Greek (probably together with all the other Major Rock Edicts I-XIV originally) in the Kandahar Greek Edict of Ashoka.
• It is also mentioned in it that after the Kalinga war, Emperor Ashoka abandoned the policy of war and adopted the policy of Dhamma.
• It also mentions the names of the border states of Emperor Ashoka.

• Describes engraving of inscriptions in different parts of country.
• Purpose of rock edicts.