Ashoka , also known as Asoka or Aśoka (/ əˈʃoʊkə / [7] ə-SHOH-kə; Sanskrit: [ɐˈɕoːkɐ], IAST: Aśoka; c. 304 – 232 BCE), popularly known as Ashoka the Great , was Emperor of Magadha [8] from c. 268 BCE until his death, and the third ruler from the Mauryan dynasty. Ashoka the Great (c. 304–232 BCE) was the emperor of India's Maurya Dynasty from 268 to 232 BCE and is remembered for his remarkable conversion to nonviolence and his merciful reign. In 265 BCE after witnessing the devastation of his own attack on the Kalinga region, he converted from being a brutal conqueror of a vast empire to a benevolent emperor who successfully ruled according to nonviolent principles. His edicts encouraged the protection of animals, mercy for criminals, and tolerance ... Learn about the life, empire and conversion to Buddhism of Ashoka , the third ruler of the Maurya Dynasty in ancient India. Explore his achievements, administration, Dhamma and legacy in Indian history and culture. Ashoka , known as Ashoka the Great , was born in 304 BCE to Emperor Bindusara and Subhadrangi, in the city of Pataliputra, the capital of the Maurya Empire. Ashoka was the grandson of Chandragupta Maurya, the founder of the Maurya Dynasty, who established one of the largest empires in Indian history.
