The correct option is (b).
Explanation
Historical texts and records are generally categorized into manuscripts and inscriptions based on the material used. The Kandahar inscription is a significant archaeological source from the Mauryan period, specifically known as the "Kandahar Bilingual Rock Inscription."Statement-wise Analysis:
- Statement 1 is Incorrect: A manuscript is a handwritten document, typically written on soft, perishable materials such as palm leaves or the birch bark of trees. In contrast, an inscription is writing engraved on a hard surface like stone, metal, or pottery. The Kandahar text is engraved on a rock face, making it an inscription, not a manuscript.
- Statement 2 is Correct: This inscription was carved on the orders of the Mauryan Emperor Ashoka (c. 268–232 BCE). It is one of the Major Rock Edicts intended to propagate his policy of Dhamma.
- Statement 3 is Correct: The Kandahar inscription is unique because it is bilingual. It uses two scripts and languages: Greek (top portion) and Aramaic (bottom portion). This indicates the presence of Greek and Aramaic-speaking populations in the northwestern frontier of the Mauryan Empire.
- Statement 4 is Correct: The inscription was discovered in 1958 at Shar-i-Kuna in Kandahar, which is located in present-day Afghanistan.
Key Takeaway: The Kandahar inscription is a bilingual edict (Greek and Aramaic) of Ashoka found in Afghanistan, serving as a prime example of an inscription on stone rather than a manuscript.