India in Ancient Times by Cecilia Jennings

Author:Cecilia Jennings
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Greenhaven Publishing LLC

From the start, the young emperor was determined to conquer the only important kingdom in India not yet under Mauryan control: Kalinga. Not long after ascending to the throne, he launched a full-scale invasion of Kalinga, whose inhabitants were completely overwhelmed. Ancient sources describe an enormous bloodbath in which 100,000 were killed, tens of thousands more were captured or driven from their homes, and thousands died of illness or starvation in the months that followed.

Then, as with his grandfather Chan-dragupta, something extraordinary happened to Asoka: Having attained his most cherished goal and become the most powerful man in India's history, he had a change of heart. When he beheld the bodies of the dead and witnessed the terrible suffering of the shattered families and communities, he was horrified and deeply remorseful. Moreover, he had the courage and depth of character to admit it to all his subjects. Asoka ordered messages inscribed on rocks and pillars across his empire, saying in part:

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