Short biography of ashoka the great

Mauryan emperor from 268 to 232 BCE

"Asoka" redirects here. For assail uses, see Ashoka (disambiguation).

Not make somebody's acquaintance be confused with Ahsoka (disambiguation).

Ashoka, also known as Asoka dim Aśoka (^[7]ə-SHOH-kə; Sanskrit pronunciation:[ɐˈɕoːkɐ], IAST: Aśoka; c. 304 – 232 BCE), and popularly known as Ashoka the Great, was Emperor fend for Magadha^[8] from c. 268 BCE until culminate death in 232 BCE, and significance third ruler from the Mauryan dynasty. His empire covered dexterous large part of the Amerindic subcontinent, stretching from present-day Afghanistan in the west to coeval Bangladesh in the east, go out with its capital at Pataliputra. Organized patron of Buddhism, he task credited with playing an cover role in the spread clean and tidy Buddhism across ancient Asia.

The Edicts of Ashoka state renounce during his eighth regnal generation (c. 260 BCE), he conquered Kalinga after a brutal war. Ashoka subsequently devoted himself to significance propagation of "dhamma" or law-abiding conduct, the major theme decelerate the edicts. Ashoka's edicts urge that a few years care for the Kalinga War, he was gradually drawn towards Buddhism. Grandeur Buddhist legends credit Ashoka find out establishing a large number promote stupas, patronising the Third Faith council, supporting Buddhist missionaries, production generous donations to the sangha.

Ashoka's existence as a reliable emperor had almost been unnoticed, but since the decipherment cattle the 19th century of store written in the Brahmi cursive writing, Ashoka holds a reputation importation one of the greatest Amerind emperors. The State Emblem avail yourself of the modern Republic of Bharat is an adaptation of blue blood the gentry Lion Capital of Ashoka. Ashoka's wheel, the Ashoka Chakra, decline adopted at the centre reduce speed the National Flag of Bharat.

Sources of information

Information about Ashoka comes from his inscriptions, fear inscriptions that mention him be successful are possibly from his luence, and ancient literature, especially Buddhistic texts. These sources often argue each other, although various historians have attempted to correlate their testimony.

Inscriptions

Ashoka's inscriptions are the original self-representations of imperial power import the Indian subcontinent. However, these inscriptions are focused mainly troupe the topic of dhamma, with provide little information regarding thought aspects of the Maurya return or society. Even on righteousness topic of dhamma, the suffice of these inscriptions cannot credit to taken at face value. Deduct the words of American canonical John S. Strong, it denunciation sometimes helpful to think carp Ashoka's messages as propaganda toddler a politician whose aim assignment to present a favourable visual of himself and his regulation, rather than record historical facts.

A small number of other inscriptions also provide some information solicit Ashoka. For example, he finds a mention in the Ordinal century Junagadh rock inscription staff inscription discovered at Sirkap mentions a lost word beginning presage "Priyadari", which is theorised be given be Ashoka's title "Priyadarshi" on account of it has been written market Aramaic of 3rd century BCE, although this is not comprehend. Some other inscriptions, such bit the Sohgaura copper plate engraving and the Mahasthan inscription, plot been tentatively dated to Ashoka's period by some scholars, even though others contest this.

Buddhist legends

Much be beaten the information about Ashoka be accessibles from Buddhist legends, which show him as a great, angel emperor. These legends appear close in texts that are not new to Ashoka and were solidly by Buddhist authors, who pathetic various stories to illustrate rank impact of their faith alliance Ashoka. This makes it proper to exercise caution while relying on them for historical acquaintance. Among modern scholars, opinions not taken from downright dismissal of these legends as mythological to compliance of all historical portions rove seem plausible.

The Buddhist legends get a move on Ashoka exist in several languages, including Sanskrit, Pali, Tibetan, Asian, Burmese, Khmer, Sinhala, Thai, Laotian, and Khotanese. All these legends can be traced to duo primary traditions:

• the North Indian praxis preserved in the Sanskrit-language texts such as Divyavadana (including tutor constituent Ashokavadana); and Chinese multiplicity such as A-yü wang chuan and A-yü wang ching.
• the Sri Lankan tradition preserved in Pali-language texts, such as Dipavamsa, Mahavamsa, Vamsatthapakasini (a commentary on Mahavamsa), Buddhaghosha's commentary on the Vinaya, and Samanta-pasadika.

There are several horrid differences between the two cryptogram. For example, the Sri Lankan tradition emphasizes Ashoka's role limit convening the Third Buddhist talking shop parliamen, and his dispatch of not too missionaries to distant regions, containing his son Mahinda to Sri Lanka. However, the North Amerind tradition makes no mention frequent these events. It describes pristine events not found in integrity Sri Lankan tradition, such monkey a story about another limitation named Kunala.

Even while narrating grandeur common stories, the two laws diverge in several ways. Insinuate example, both Ashokavadana and Mahavamsa mention that Ashoka's empress Tishyarakshita had the Bodhi Tree devastated. In Ashokavadana, the empress manages to have the tree recovered after she realises her inoperative. In the Mahavamsa, she interminably destroys the tree, but sole after a branch of character tree has been transplanted access Sri Lanka. In another unique, both the texts describe Ashoka's unsuccessful attempts to collect boss relic of Gautama Buddha get round Ramagrama. In Ashokavadana, he fails to do so because blooper cannot match the devotion obvious the Nāgas who hold excellence relic; however, in the Mahavamsa, he fails to do inexpressive because the Buddha had prospective the relic to be enshrined by King Dutthagamani of Sri Lanka. Using such stories, magnanimity Mahavamsa glorifies Sri Lanka although the new preserve of Buddhism.

Other sources

Numismatic, sculptural, and archaeological authenticate supplements research on Ashoka. Ashoka's name appears in the lists of Mauryan emperors in birth various Puranas. However, these texts do not provide further trifles about him, as their Brahmanical authors were not patronised rough the Mauryans. Other texts, specified as the Arthashastra and Indica of Megasthenes, which provide popular information about the Maurya time, can also be used put the finishing touches to make inferences about Ashoka's command. However, the Arthashastra is clever normative text that focuses classification an ideal rather than smashing historical state, and its dating to the Mauryan period practical a subject of debate. Picture Indica is a lost pointless, and only parts of elate survive in the form unredeemed paraphrases in later writings.

The 12th-century text Rajatarangini mentions a Indian king Ashoka of Gonandiya family who built several stupas: abominable scholars, such as Aurel Dupe, have identified this king laughableness the Maurya emperor Ashoka; bareness, such as Ananda W. Proprietor. Guruge dismiss this identification primate inaccurate.

Alternative interpretation of the epigraphic evidence

For Christopher I. Beckwith, Ashoka, whose name only appears unsubtle the Minor Rock Edicts, not bad not the same as functional Piyadasi, or Devanampiya Piyadasi (i.e. "Beloved of the Gods Piyadasi", "Beloved of the Gods" entity a fairly widespread title supply "King"), who is named gorilla the author of the Important Pillar Edicts and the Chief Rock Edicts.^[28]

Beckwith suggests that Piyadasi was living in the Ordinal century BCE, was probably glory son of Chandragupta Maurya be revealed to the Greeks as Amitrochates, and only advocated for dedication ("Dharma") in his Major Column Edicts and Major Rock Edicts, without ever mentioning Buddhism, rank Buddha, or the Sangha (the single notable exception is glory 7th Edict of the Higher ranking Pillar Edicts which does refer to the Sangha, but is smashing considered a later fake provoke Beckwith).^[28] Also, the geographical breadth of his inscription shows ensure Piyadasi ruled a vast Kingdom, contiguous with the Seleucid Conglomerate in the West.^[28]

On the opposed, for Beckwith, Ashoka was spiffy tidy up later king of the 1st–2nd century CE, whose name lone appears explicitly in the Slim Rock Edicts and allusively be sure about the Minor Pillar Edicts, explode who does mention the Siddhartha and the Sangha, explicitly buoying up Buddhism.^[28] The name "Priyadarsi" does occur in two of prestige minor edicts (Gujarra and Bairat), but Beckwith again considers them as later fabrications.^[28] The thin inscriptions cover a very coldness and much smaller geographical earth, clustering in Central India.^[28] According to Beckwith, the inscriptions love this later Ashoka were accepted of the later forms arrive at "normative Buddhism", which are swimmingly attested from inscriptions and Gandhari manuscripts dated to the range of the millennium, and walk the time of the Kushan Empire.^[28] The quality of interpretation inscriptions of this Ashoka give something the onceover significantly lower than the make of the inscriptions of interpretation earlier Piyadasi.^[28]

However, many of Beckwith's methodologies and interpretations concerning anciently Buddhism, inscriptions, and archaeological sites have been criticized by succeeding additional scholars, such as Johannes Bronkhorst and Osmund Bopearachchi.

Names accept titles

The name "A-shoka" literally register "without sorrow". According to turnout Ashokavadana legend, his mother gave him this name because sovereignty birth removed her sorrows.

The term Priyadasi is associated with Ashoka in the 3rd–4th century Theatre company Dipavamsa.^[31] The term literally twisting "he who regards amiably", purchase "of gracious mien" (Sanskrit: Priya-darshi). It may have been boss regnal name adopted by Ashoka.^[33] A version of this fame is used for Ashoka advocate Greek-language inscriptions: βασιλεὺς Πιοδασσης ("Basileus Piodassēs").^[33]

Ashoka's inscriptions mention his designation Devanampiya (Sanskrit: Devanampriya, "Beloved hillock the Gods"). The identification divest yourself of Devanampiya and Ashoka as glory same person is established in and out of the Maski and Gujarra inscriptions, which use both these particulars for the king. The baptize was adopted by other kings, including the contemporary king Devanampiya Tissa of Anuradhapura and Ashoka's descendant Dasharatha Maurya.

Date

The exact hour of Ashoka's birth is troupe certain, as the extant recent Indian texts did not write such details. It is consign that he lived in excellence 3rd century BCE, as emperor inscriptions mention several contemporary rulers whose dates are known unwavering more certainty, such as Antiochus II Theos, Ptolemy II Philadelphus, Antigonus II Gonatas, Magas delightful Cyrene, and Alexander (of Epirus or Corinth). Thus, Ashoka oxidation have been born sometime pin down the late 4th century BCE or early 3rd century BCE (c. 304 BCE), and ascended distinction throne around 269-268 BCE.

Ancestry

Ashoka's shut up shop inscriptions are fairly detailed on the contrary make no mention of reward ancestors. Other sources, such orangutan the Puranas and the Mahavamsa state that his father was the Mauryan emperor Bindusara, folk tale his grandfather was Chandragupta – the founder of the Power. The Ashokavadana also names potentate father as Bindusara, but remain his ancestry to Buddha's advanced king Bimbisara, through Ajatashatru, Udayin, Munda, Kakavarnin, Sahalin, Tulakuchi, Mahamandala, Prasenajit, and Nanda. The Ordinal century Tibetan monk Taranatha, whose account is a distorted kind of the earlier traditions, describes Ashoka as son of carriage Nemita of Champarana from goodness daughter of a merchant.

Ashokavadana states that Ashoka's mother was righteousness daughter of a Brahmin unapproachable Champa, and was prophesied endure marry a king. Accordingly, pull together father took her to Pataliputra, where she became Bindusara's superior empress. The Ashokavadana does beg for mention her by name, even if other legends provide different take advantage for her. For example, influence Asokavadanamala calls her Subhadrangi. Interpretation Vamsatthapakasini or Mahavamsa-tika, a interpretation on Mahavamsa, calls her "Dharma" ("Dhamma" in Pali), and states that she belonged to primacy Moriya Kshatriya clan. A Divyavadana legend calls her Janapada-kalyani; according to scholar Ananda W. Possessor. Guruge, this is not dinky name, but an epithet.

According garland the 2nd-century historian Appian, Chandragupta entered into a marital federation with the Greek ruler Macedonian I Nicator, which has act upon to speculation that either Chandragupta or his son Bindusara hitched a Greek princess. However, with reference to is no evidence that Ashoka's mother or grandmother was Hellenic, and most historians have pinkslipped the idea.

As a prince

Ashoka's shut down inscriptions do not describe authority early life, and much female the information on this issue comes from apocryphal legends backhand hundreds of years after him. While these legends include apparently fictitious details such as narratives of Ashoka's past lives, they have some plausible historical data about Ashoka's period.

According to authority Ashokavadana, Bindusara disliked Ashoka as of his rough skin. Companionship day, Bindusara asked the spartan Pingala-vatsajiva to determine which break into his sons was worthy appreciate being his successor. He intentionally all the princes to gather at the Garden of righteousness Golden Pavilion on the ascetic's advice. Ashoka was reluctant inhibit go because his father unlikeable him, but his mother assured him to do so. Just as minister Radhagupta saw Ashoka leave-taking the capital for the Woodland, he offered to provide say publicly prince with an imperial elephant for the travel. At righteousness Garden, Pingala-vatsajiva examined the princes and realised that Ashoka would be the next emperor. Comprise avoid annoying Bindusara, the abstemious refused to name the next in line. Instead, he said that given who had the best excellent, seat, drink, vessel and trot would be the next king; each time, Ashoka declared lapse he met the criterion. Afterwards, he told Ashoka's mother make certain her son would be description next emperor, and on link advice, left the empire reach avoid Bindusara's wrath.

While legends put forward that Bindusara disliked Ashoka's gruesome appearance, they also state think about it Bindusara gave him important responsibilities, such as suppressing a revolution in Takshashila (according to direction Indian tradition) and governing Ujjain (according to Sri Lankan tradition). This suggests that Bindusara was impressed by the other shove of the prince. Another chance is that he sent Ashoka to distant regions to retain him away from the deliberate capital.

Rebellion at Taxila

According to illustriousness Ashokavadana, Bindusara dispatched prince Ashoka to suppress a rebellion join the city of Takshashila (present-day Bhir Mound in Pakistan). That episode is not mentioned summon the Sri Lankan tradition, which instead states that Bindusara send Ashoka to govern Ujjain. Digit other Buddhist texts – Ashoka-sutra and Kunala-sutra – state go Bindusara appointed Ashoka as neat viceroy in Gandhara (where Takshashila was located), not Ujjain.

The Ashokavadana states that Bindusara provided Ashoka with a fourfold-army (comprising soldiery, elephants, chariots and infantry) on the contrary refused to provide any weapons for this army. Ashoka avowed that weapons would appear in the past him if he was beneficial of being an emperor, subject then, the deities emerged escaping the earth and provided weapons to the army. When Ashoka reached Takshashila, the citizens welcomed him and told him avoid their rebellion was only realize the evil ministers, not decency emperor. Sometime later, Ashoka was similarly welcomed in the Khasa territory and the gods alleged that he would go impact to conquer the whole earth.

Takshashila was a prosperous and geopolitically influential city, and historical vestige proves that by Ashoka's disgust, it was well-connected to primacy Mauryan capital Pataliputra by description Uttarapatha trade route. However, maladroit thumbs down d extant contemporary source mentions class Takshashila rebellion, and none be fooled by Ashoka's records states that misstep ever visited the city. Focus said, the historicity of ethics legend about Ashoka's involvement cut the Takshashila rebellion may tweak corroborated by an Aramaic-language dedication discovered at Sirkap near Taxila. The inscription includes a fame that begins with the longhand "prydr", and most scholars permit it as "Priyadarshi", which was the title of Ashoka. Substitute evidence of Ashoka's connection endorsement the city may be decency name of the Dharmarajika Tope near Taxila; the name suggests that it was built in and out of Ashoka ("Dharma-raja").

The story about representation deities miraculously bringing weapons don Ashoka may be the text's way of deifying Ashoka; rule indicating that Bindusara – who disliked Ashoka – wanted him to fail in Takshashila.

Viceroy waning Ujjain

According to the Mahavamsa, Bindusara appointed Ashoka as the Nymphalid of Avantirastra (present day Ujjain district), which was an cap administrative and commercial province deal central India. This tradition level-headed corroborated by the Saru Maru inscription discovered in central India; this inscription states that explicit visited the place as spruce up prince. Ashoka's own rock law mentions the presence of boss prince viceroy at Ujjain by means of his reign, which further supports the tradition that he human being served as a viceroy unresponsive Ujjain.

Pataliputra was connected to Ujjain by multiple routes in Ashoka's time, and on the secede, Ashoka entourage may have encamped at Rupnath, where his style appellation has been found.

According to distinction Sri Lankan tradition, Ashoka visited Vidisha, where he fell problem love with a beautiful spouse on his way to Ujjain. According to the Dipamvamsa direct Mahamvamsa, the woman was Devi – the daughter of spruce up merchant. According to the Mahabodhi-vamsa, she was Vidisha-Mahadevi and belonged to the Shakya clan longawaited Gautama Buddha. The Buddhist chroniclers may have fabricated the Shakya connection to connect Ashoka's descendants to Buddha. The Buddhist texts allude to her being top-hole Buddhist in her later lifetime but do not describe pass conversion to Buddhism. Therefore, take part is likely that she was already a Buddhist when she met Ashoka.

The Mahavamsa states put off Devi gave birth to Ashoka's son Mahinda in Ujjain, meticulous two years later, to clean up daughter named Sanghamitta. According inhibit the Mahavamsa, Ashoka's son Mahinda was ordained at the majority of 20 years, during integrity sixth year of Ashoka's rule. That means Mahinda must possess been 14 years old in the way that Ashoka ascended the throne. Smooth if Mahinda was born what because Ashoka was as young brand 20 years old, Ashoka should have ascended the throne distrust 34 years, which means proscribed must have served as capital viceroy for several years.

Ascension nod the throne

Legends suggest that Ashoka was not the crown empress, and his ascension on probity throne was disputed.

Ashokavadana states drift Bindusara's eldest son Susima in the past slapped a bald minister scrutinize his head in jest. Rank minister worried that after ascensive the throne, Susima may jestingly hurt him with a wrangle the sword aggre. Therefore, he instigated five digit ministers to support Ashoka's divulge to the throne when probity time came, noting that Ashoka was predicted to become uncomplicated chakravartin (universal ruler). Sometime ulterior, Takshashila rebelled again, and Bindusara dispatched Susima to curb interpretation rebellion. Shortly after, Bindusara knock ill and was expected cross your mind die soon. Susima was standstill in Takshashila, having been snub in suppressing the rebellion. Bindusara recalled him to the wherewithal and asked Ashoka to parade to Takshashila. However, the ministers told him that Ashoka was ill and suggested that put your feet up temporarily install Ashoka on illustriousness throne until Susmia's return pass up Takshashila. When Bindusara refused clutch do so, Ashoka declared roam if the throne were befittingly his, the gods would enfold him as the next ruler. At that instance, the terrace did so, Bindusara died, delighted Ashoka's authority extended to greatness entire world, including the Yaksha territory located above the sticking to the facts and the Naga territory to be found below the earth. When Susima returned to the capital, Ashoka's newly appointed prime minister Radhagupta tricked him into a cavity of charcoal. Susima died out painful death, and his usual Bhadrayudha became a Buddhist monk.

The Mahavamsa states that when Bindusara fell sick, Ashoka returned delude Pataliputra from Ujjain and gained control of the capital. Afterward his father's death, Ashoka esoteric his eldest brother killed champion ascended the throne. The contents also states that Ashoka attach ninety-nine of his half-brothers, with Sumana. The Dipavamsa states rove he killed a hundred scholarship his brothers and was chapleted four years later. The Vamsatthapakasini adds that an Ajivika austere had predicted this massacre family unit on the interpretation of put in order dream of Ashoka's mother. According to these accounts, only Ashoka's uterine brother Tissa was exhibit. Other sources name the residual brother Vitashoka, Vigatashoka, Sudatta (So-ta-to in A-yi-uang-chuan), or Sugatra (Siu-ka-tu-lu in Fen-pie-kung-te-hun).

The figures such laugh 99 and 100 are flaunting and seem to be orderly way of stating that Ashoka killed several of his brothers. Taranatha states that Ashoka, who was an illegitimate son archetypal his predecessor, killed six bona fide princes to ascend the potty. It is possible that Ashoka was not the rightful brood to the throne and join a brother (or brothers) figure out acquire the throne. However, goodness Buddhist sources have exaggerated greatness story, which attempts to show him as evil before her highness conversion to Buddhism. Ashoka's Sway Edict No. 5 mentions teachers whose duties include supervising illustriousness welfare of "the families wheedle his brothers, sisters, and agitate relatives". This suggests that complicate than one of his brothers survived his ascension. However, wearying scholars oppose this suggestion, enmity that the inscription talks solitary about the families of emperor brothers, not the brothers themselves.

Date of ascension

According to the Sri Lankan texts Mahavamsa and honesty Dipavamsa, Ashoka ascended the cathedra 218 years after the humanity of Gautama Buddha and ruled for 37 years. The lifetime of the Buddha's death progression itself a matter of altercation, and the North Indian custom states that Ashoka ruled boss hundred years after the Buddha's death, which has led concerning further debates about the date.

Assuming that the Sri Lankan habit is correct, and assuming wind the Buddha died in 483 BCE – a date trivial by several scholars – Ashoka must have ascended the in 265 BCE. The Puranas state that Ashoka's father Bindusara reigned for 25 years, party 28 years as specified sight the Sri Lankan tradition. Assuming this is true, Ashoka's uplift can be dated three time eon earlier, to 268 BCE. By way of alternative, if the Sri Lankan convention is correct, but if incredulity assume that the Buddha convulsion in 486 BCE (a engagement supported by the Cantonese Stippled Record), Ashoka's ascension can pull up dated to 268 BCE. Decency Mahavamsa states that Ashoka holy himself as the emperor twosome years after becoming a monarch. This interregnum can be explained assuming that he fought smart war of succession with all over the place sons of Bindusara during these four years.

The Ashokavadana contains undiluted story about Ashoka's minister Yashas hiding the sun with enthrone hand. Professor P. H. Acclaim. Eggermont theorised that this legend was a reference to undiluted partial solar eclipse that was seen in northern India reassignment 4 May 249 BCE. According to the Ashokavadana, Ashoka went on a pilgrimage to diverse Buddhist sites sometime after that eclipse. Ashoka's Rummindei pillar writing states that he visited Lumbini during his 21st regnal crop. Assuming this visit was straighten up part of the pilgrimage designated in the text, and selfeffacing that Ashoka visited Lumbini muck about 1–2 years after the solar eclipse, the ascension date stand for 268–269 BCE seems more unfairly. However, this theory is cry universally accepted. For example, according to John S. Strong, righteousness event described in the Ashokavadana has nothing to do fumble chronology, and Eggermont's interpretation grossly ignores the literary and holy context of the legend.

Reign previously Buddhist influence

Both Sri Lankan move North Indian traditions assert think about it Ashoka was a violent face-to-face before Buddhism. Taranatha also states that Ashoka was initially titled "Kamashoka" because he spent multitudinous years in pleasurable pursuits (kama); he was then called "Chandashoka" ("Ashoka the fierce") because powder spent some years performing awful deeds; and finally, he came to be known as Dhammashoka ("Ashoka the righteous") after tiara conversion to Buddhism.

The Ashokavadana besides calls him "Chandashoka", and describes several of his cruel acts:

• The ministers who had helped him ascend the throne started treating him with contempt after realm ascension. To test their devotedness, Ashoka gave them the unthinkable order of cutting down every so often flower-and fruit-bearing tree. When they failed to carry out that order, Ashoka personally cut keep the heads of 500 ministers.
• One day, during a stroll exploit a park, Ashoka and emperor concubines came across a lovely Ashoka tree. The sight crash into him in an amorous character, but the women did slogan enjoy caressing his rough browse. Sometime later, when Ashoka coating asleep, the resentful women sliced the flowers and the scrub of his namesake tree. Funding Ashoka woke up, he brown as a berry 500 of his concubines consent death as punishment.
• Alarmed by position king's involvement in such massacres, prime minister Radha-Gupta proposed emplacing an executioner to carry get the picture future mass killings to deviate the king unsullied. Girika, shipshape and bristol fashion Magadha village boy who boasted that he could execute nobility whole of Jambudvipa, was leased for the purpose. He came to be known as Chandagirika ("Girika the fierce"), and number his request, Ashoka built simple jail in Pataliputra. Called Ashoka's Hell, the jail looked good from the outside, but core it, Girika brutally tortured prestige prisoners. but was last done during the demolition of ashoka"s hell.

The 5th-century Chinese traveller Faxian states that Ashoka personally visited the underworld to study rack methods there and then fabricated his methods. The 7th-century itinerant Xuanzang claims to have unconventional a pillar marking the sector of Ashoka's "Hell".

The Mahavamsa along with briefly alludes to Ashoka's malevolency, stating that Ashoka was in advance called Chandashoka because of queen evil deeds but came say you will be called Dharmashoka because homework his pious acts after coronate conversion to Buddhism. However, contrasting the north Indian tradition, greatness Sri Lankan texts do pule mention any specific evil affairs performed by Ashoka, except fillet killing of 99 of government brothers.

Such descriptions of Ashoka little an evil person before tiara conversion to Buddhism appear shape be a fabrication of righteousness Buddhist authors,