Political History of Ancient India, from the Accession of Parikshit to the Extinction of the Gupta Dynasty c14.s3.17

c14.s3.17

During the first thirteen years of his reign Aśoka seems to have carried on the traditional Maurya policy of expansion within India, and of friendly co-operation with the foreign powers, which was in vogue after the Seleukidan war. Like Chandragupta and Bindusāra he was aggressive at home but pacific abroad. The friendly attitude towards non-Indian powers is proved by the exchange of embassies and the employment of Yavana officials like Tushāspha.² In India, however, he played the part of a conqueror. The *Divyāvadāna* credits him, while yet a prince with the suppression of a revolt in Taxila and the conquest of the Svaśa (Khaśa?) country. In the thirteenth year of his reign (eight years after consecration), he effected the conquest of Kaliṅga. We do not know the exact limits of this kingdom in the days of Aśoka. But if the Sanskrit epics and *Purāṇas* are to be believed, it extended to the river Vaitaraṇī in the north,³ the Amarakaṇṭaka Hills in the west⁴ and Mahendragiri in the south.⁵