Chapter 7 Ashoka, The Emperor Who Gave Up War

Ruling The Empire

Due to the empire's enormous size, different regions were administered in varied ways. The area immediately around the capital, Pataliputra, was under the direct control of the emperor.

In this central area, officials were appointed to:

• Collect taxes from various groups living in villages and towns (farmers, herders, craftspersons, traders).
• Punish those who did not follow the emperor's orders.

These officials were often paid salaries. Messengers facilitated communication, and spies were employed to monitor the officials. The emperor, aided by members of the royal family and senior ministers, directly supervised the administration of the core region.

Beyond the central area were other regions or provinces, each ruled from a provincial capital such as Taxila or Ujjain. While Pataliputra maintained some degree of control over these provinces, and royal princes often served as governors, local customs and rules were likely also followed in these areas.

Vast areas between these administrative centers were also part of the empire. The Mauryas sought to control important roads and rivers in these regions, as they were crucial for transport and collecting resources. Resources were collected as **tax** (on a regular basis) and **tribute** (collected as possible, often willingly, consisting of various items). The Arthashastra mentions that the northwest was important for blankets and south India for gold and precious stones, suggesting these were collected as tribute.

People living in forested regions were relatively independent but were expected to provide forest produce, such as elephants, timber, honey, and wax, to Mauryan officials.

The Emperor And The Capital City

Insights into the life of the emperor and the capital city of Pataliputra are provided by Megasthenes, a Greek ambassador sent to Chandragupta Maurya's court by Seleucus Nicator. Megasthenes' account describes:

• Royal Processions: The emperor's public appearances were grand royal processions, with him carried in a golden palanquin, guarded by elephants adorned with gold and silver, and sometimes surrounded by trained parrots and armed women.
• Security Measures: The emperor was highly concerned for his safety, having special servants taste his food and changing his bedroom nightly, suggesting fear of assassination.
• Pataliputra: Described as a large and beautiful city surrounded by a massive wall with 570 towers and 64 gates. Houses were two or three storeys high, built of wood and mud brick. The king's palace was made of wood and decorated with stone carvings, surrounded by gardens and bird enclosures.

The elaborate security measures, such as food tasters and changing bedrooms, were likely taken due to the constant threat of assassination faced by powerful rulers in those times.

Comparing Pataliputra with Mohenjodaro (Chapter 3) highlights differences: Pataliputra was described with massive fortification walls, a wooden palace, and distinct architectural styles using wood and mud brick alongside stone carvings, reflecting features of a later period and possibly a different emphasis compared to the well-planned baked-brick structures and communal facilities like the Great Bath in Mohenjodaro. Pataliputra's description focuses more on royal power and protection, while Mohenjodaro emphasizes civic planning and possibly ritual cleanliness.

Ashoka, A Unique Ruler

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Ashoka was the most celebrated ruler of the Mauryan dynasty. He is considered unique in history because he was the first ruler who attempted to directly communicate his message to his subjects through inscriptions.

Most of Ashoka's inscriptions were written in Prakrit, the language of the common people, and used the Brahmi script (Box 7.3 shows the Brahmi script and its evolution). This choice made his messages accessible to a wider audience across his vast empire.

The Rampurwa bull sculpture, part of a Mauryan pillar, is an example of the high skill of sculptors during Ashoka's time.

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Ashoka’s War In Kalinga

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Kalinga is the ancient name for the coastal region of modern-day Orissa (Map 5, page 68). Ashoka engaged in a war to conquer Kalinga. However, the immense violence and bloodshed he witnessed during this conflict had a profound impact on him.

He was so horrified by the suffering (lakhs captured, over a lakh killed, death of Brahmins and monks, loss of loved ones) that he experienced deep **sorrow and remorse**. This transformative experience led him to make a unique decision in the history of warfare: he decided to give up conquest and fight no more wars after winning the Kalinga war.

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Ashoka’s Inscription on the Kalinga War

Example. This is what Ashoka declared in one of his inscriptions: “Eight years after becoming king I conquered Kalinga. About a lakh and a half people were captured. And more than a lakh of people were killed. This filled me with sorrow. Why? Whenever an independent land is conquered, lakhs of people die, and many are taken prisoner. Brahmins and monks also die. People who are kind to their relatives and friends, to their slaves and servants die, or lose their loved ones. That is why I am sad, and have decided to observe dhamma, and to teach others about it as well. I believe that winning people over through dhamma is much better than conquering them through force. I am inscribing this message for the future, so that my son and grandson after me should not think about war. Instead, they should try to think about how to spread dhamma.” (‘Dhamma’ is the Prakrit word for the Sanskrit term ‘Dharma’).

How did the Kalinga war bring about a change in Ashoka’s attitude towards war?

Answer:

The Kalinga war exposed Ashoka to the immense suffering caused by conflict, including death, capture, and the loss of loved ones, even for those who were kind and gentle. This direct experience of violence and bloodshed filled him with deep sorrow and regret. Witnessing the devastating human cost of war led him to realize its futility and negative impact on all sections of society. This emotional and moral awakening caused a fundamental shift in his attitude, leading him to renounce further military conquests and instead dedicate himself to promoting 'dhamma', a path of peace and moral conduct.

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What Was Ashoka’s Dhamma?

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Ashoka's dhamma (Prakrit for Dharma) was a moral and ethical code or way of life that he advocated. It was not a new religion; it did not involve worshipping any specific god or performing sacrifices.

Inspired by the teachings of the Buddha, Ashoka believed he had a paternal duty to guide and instruct his subjects towards righteous conduct. He sought to address various problems and tensions present in his diverse empire:

• Conflicts arising from people following different religions.
• Practices like animal sacrifice.
• Ill-treatment of slaves and servants.
• Quarrels within families and among neighbors.

To promote dhamma, Ashoka took several steps:

• He appointed special officials called dhamma mahamatta, who traveled across the empire teaching people about dhamma.
• He had his messages and principles of dhamma inscribed on rocks and pillars, instructing officials to read them aloud to those who were illiterate.
• He sent messengers to spread the ideas of dhamma to other lands, including Syria, Egypt, Greece, and Sri Lanka (Map 6 shows these regions).
• He implemented welfare measures like building roads, digging wells, and constructing rest houses.
• He arranged for medical treatment for both people and animals.

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Key Messages of Ashoka’s Dhamma

Ashoka's inscriptions convey specific messages on moral conduct and social harmony:

• He criticized traditional rituals performed during events like illness, marriage, or journeys as not being useful.
• He emphasized the importance of practices that he considered more fruitful:
  • Being gentle and kind to slaves and servants.
  • Respecting elders.
  • Treating all creatures with compassion.
  • Giving gifts to brahmins and monks.
• He strongly advocated for religious tolerance, stating that it is wrong to praise one's own religion while criticizing others. Respecting other religions is important, and criticizing another's religion harms one's own more. He encouraged understanding and respecting the core ideas of different religions.

Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru recognized the relevance of Ashoka's instructions for modern times, noting that his edicts still speak in an understandable language and offer valuable lessons.

Most modern Indian scripts have evolved from the ancient Brahmi script used in Ashoka's inscriptions over centuries.

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Elsewhere

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Examining other contemporary empires provides a point of comparison. Around 2400 years ago, emperors in China began constructing the Great Wall. This massive structure was built primarily to protect the northern frontier of the empire from pastoral people (nomadic groups). The wall was extended and modified over a period of 2000 years as the empire's borders shifted. The Great Wall is approximately 6400 km long, made of stone and brick, with a road along the top and watch towers at regular intervals. Its construction required the labor of thousands of people.

Comparing Ashoka's attitude towards neighboring peoples with that of the Chinese emperors highlights a key difference: while Chinese emperors invested heavily in military defenses like the Great Wall to physically keep out and defend against external groups, Ashoka, after the Kalinga war, chose a path of peace and sought to win over people (including neighboring regions) through moral persuasion and the principles of dhamma, rather than military conquest and physical barriers.

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Imagine

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This section prompts an imaginative exercise to envision a dialogue between messengers from Ashoka arriving in Kalinga after the war, presenting the new ideas of dhamma, and parents in Kalinga who have suffered in the war, reflecting on the contrast between the violence experienced and the message of peace and compassion being conveyed.

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Let’s Recall

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This section includes questions designed to test recall of key facts from the chapter, such as identifying occupations, completing sentences about the Mauryan administration and geography, and determining the truth or falsity of statements about the Mauryan empire and Ashoka.

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Let’s Discuss

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This section contains questions encouraging discussion and critical thinking about the concepts presented, such as analysing the problems Ashoka aimed to solve with dhamma, evaluating the effectiveness of his methods for spreading his message, and considering the potential impact of his orders on the condition of slaves and servants.

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Let’s Do

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This section suggests activities for creative engagement and reflection, including explaining to Roshan the significance of the lions on currency notes, identifying other objects with the lion symbol, and formulating hypothetical commands if one had the power to issue orders, drawing parallels to Ashoka's edicts.

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Keywords

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This section lists important terms introduced in the chapter:

• empire
• capital
• province
• dhamma
• messenger
• official

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Some Important Dates

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This section provides a key date related to the Mauryan empire:

• Beginning of the Mauryan empire: more than 2300 years ago (founded by Chandragupta Maurya).

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Map : 6 Showing Important Trade Routes Including The Silk Route

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This section refers to a map illustrating important ancient trade routes across Eurasia and connecting regions like China, India, Iran, Arabia, Greece, and Rome. It highlights key land and sea routes, including the Silk Route, and identifies major trading participants and export centers like the ports of south India (important for pepper and spices), and places mentioned in the text like Arikamedu (referred to as Poduca by the Romans).

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Looking Ahead

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This section briefly outlines the historical developments following the collapse of the Mauryan empire (around 2200 years ago). It notes the rise of several new kingdoms and dynasties in different parts of the subcontinent, including:

• Indo-Greeks (north-west and parts of north India).
• Shakas (north-west, north, and western India).
• Kushanas (following the Shakas).
• Shungas and Kanvas (north and central India, following the Mauryas).
• Satavahanas (western and parts of central India).
• Vakatakas (central and western India, following the Satavahanas).
• Cholas, Cheras, and Pandyas (south India).
• Pallavas and Chalukyas (south India).

It also mentions other broader changes occurring simultaneously, driven by ordinary people, including the spread of agriculture, growth of new towns, craft production, and trade (both internal and external via land and sea routes). This period saw the construction of new buildings (earliest temples, stupas), writing of books, and scientific discoveries, setting the stage for later historical developments.