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Ashoka’s Dhamma Policy : The Word dhamma was derived from the Sanskrit word dharma,
meaning religious duty. After the war, Ashoka became a follower of Buddhism and began

to preach this religion. Its main principles were:
• To follow the path of ahimsa and non-violence.
Megasthenese was the ambassador
• People should respect their elders and other of Seleucus Nicator in the court of
religions. Changragupta for five years. On his
• People should live in peace and harmony. return home, he wrote a book called

• Masters should be kind to their servants. Indika, in which he gave an account
of the life and society at Pataliputra
• The poor and the disabled should be given special and the Mauryan Empire.
consideration.

Spread of Dhamma : Ashoka issued edicts (royal orders) to spread the
message of dhamma. He had his edicts engraved on pillars and rocks,
and set up in public places all over the empire. Most of the edicts

were written in Prakrit, using the Brahmi script. In his edicts, Ashoka
addressed himself as the father of his people.
Ashoka appointed special officer called Dhamma Mahamatta to

interpret and carry out royal orders.
Ashoka also sent his officials to spread Dhamma to Syria, Greece,
The Ashokan Pillar at firoz Egypt and Sri Lanka.
Shah Kotla, Delhi
admInIstratIon of tHe mauryas

When members of the same family become rulers
one after another, the family is often called a
dynasty. So, the Mauryas were a dynasty. We
know from Arthashastra that the administration
of Pataliputra, the capital of the Mauryans was

given to six committees. These committees
looked after sanitation, care of foreigners,
registration of births and deaths, regulation of
weight and measures. Thus, you may notice that
issues which are relevant even today were taken
up by the committees. Most probably, the other
towns were also managed in a similar manner.

The Emperor was the final decision maker, but
he was also assisted by a council of ministers.

An empire was divided into a number of
provinces : each placed under a prince of the

royal family, who could be trusted and be
loyal to the emperor. Asjoka’s Empire
58 Social Studies-6