The Emperor Who Laid Down His Sword
Ashoka The Great was an Emperor of the Mauyran dynasty of India. He reigned during the 200s BCE. His story is a mixture of fact and legend. He is noted for his great conquest that expanded his empire. More famously though after his conquest, the warrior laid down his sword and pursued a reign of peace of prosperity.
When Ashoka came to power he inherited an empire that ruled most of India’s subcontinent since 321 BCE. The empire had a highly organized bureaucracy that efficiently oversaw the region, its standing army, and members of its civil service. In the eighth year of his reign, Ashoka conquered the neighboring region of Kalinga expanding the empire to the east coast of the subcontinent. Many emperors in history and from other cultures would have taken this as a springboard to further glories and conquest. Ashoka though reverses his position renouncing armed conquest and warfare.
According to traditions and the accounts from Ashoka after seeing the suffering of the defeated people of Kalinga he was filled with remorse. This along with Ashoka’s adoption of Buddhism led to his decision to lay down his sword and pursue a “conquest by dharma” (dharma is regarded as the teachings of Buddhism and the Budda). He worked to share the dharma throughout his empire by going on periodic tours preaching the dharma to different regions. He also erected what are referred to as rock edicts. Large rocks or pillars with engravings on them containing statements from Ashoka on his thoughts, philosophies, and acts. While he was devoted to Buddhism, Ashoka fostered religious tolerance in his empire.
Wanting to practice what he spoke Ashoka endeavored to improve the quality of life for his people. He charged his officials with acting according to the needs of the common people and handing down justice fairly. He also appointed ministers to specifically foster dharma throughout the empire. He had them work to help and relieve the suffering of people including, women, different religious communities, neighboring communities, and even animals. He ordered that all matters of public welfare were to be reported to him. He also oversaw the buildings of many public works such as hospitals, wells, and groves of trees.
Unfortunately, his work died with him. The Mauryan Empire began to disintegrate after his death and his policies and public works were discontinued. Despite this Ashoka’s ideals and legacy live on. He showed the difference an Emperor can make when he devotes himself to the welfare of his people.