The Historical Inscriptions of Southern India (collected till 1923) and Outlines of Political History c7.45

c7.45

Eight years after his coronation, viz. in 256 B.C. Aśōka made war on the King of Kalinga. It was conducted in savage fashion. Later on in life the king, in his edicts, admits that he was responsible for the deaths of 100,000 of his enemy's people, and the carrying away into captivity of 150,000 more, while a still greater number died of want and starvation. These horrors made a deep impression on Aśōka's mind. Two years later he became a convert to Buddhism and governed for the rest of his life with kindness and moderation. His rock-cut edicts amply testify to his love of justice and mercy, and to his desire that all his subjects should act up to those principles. That being so it may be assumed that to the best of his ability he abolished such parts of former codes as encouraged cruel treatment of the people. In his Kalinga edicts he specially laments that some of his officials had inflicted unjust imprisonment and torture on individuals.