Question

What do Asoka's edicts indicate about him?

Answer 1

Asoka's edicts indicate that:Asoka was motivated to convert to Buddhism after seeing heavy casualties during his conquests. After this transformation he promoted peace and prosperity. He wanted to live a humble life without unnecessary festivals and excess. He did not want to kill living beings and emphasized non-violence. Asoka stressed respect for elders and encouraged all generations to follow in his footsteps. He believed in bettering the lives of others through religious and social tolerance. Asoka considered it his duty to spread the gift of righteousness throughout Asia.

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Answer 2

From the experience in the Kalinga war a new Ashoka emerged, a sovereign who, truly repentant, wished to purify his soul in the face of the desolation he had caused with a single order from him. This was expressed in many of his edicts engraved on stone. In these edits, you can apprehend your regret and your intention to convert to Buddhism. A clear example is:

«The beloved of the gods felt remorse for the conquest of Kalinga, because when a country is conquered for the first time the killings, death and deportation of people are very sad for the dear of the gods and weigh heavily on their soul».