Toñukuk Yazıtının II. Taşının 46. Satırında Geçen (a)şok(a) b(a)şl(ı)g sogd(a)k bod(u)n İbaresi Üzerine

Abstract

The phrase ašok(a) bašlıg in line 46 of the second stone of the Toñuquq inscription has been interpreted in different ways in Turkology literature. The first edition by W. Radloff failed to read this part correctly and translated it incorrectly into German. V. Thomsen and other researchers read the pharase as suq bašlıg offering a more accurate interpretation. Subsequent researchers have offered a variety of interpretations of the phrase, which have significantly contributed to our understanding of the meaning and historical context of the text. If we follow the interpretation proposed by G. J. Ramstedt, which reads the phrase as (a)šoq(a) b(a)šl(ı)g or (a)šoq b(a)šl(ı)g, and translates it as “Ašoka headed (having a head, with leader)” or “Ašoka headed (having a head, with leader)”, we can identify the name of the leader of the Sogdian people and correctly understand the phrase.