Age of the Nandas and Mauryas c12.s10.14

c12.s10.14

Aśoka’s patronage must have contributed to the spread of Buddhism not only within the empire but also to distant lands even in his lifetime. We learn from the edicts that he himself had given a lead in this direction. Throughout his empire he had circulated instructions on the Dhamma, and caused them to be inscribed on rocks and pillars overlooking the highroads so that they could attract the notice of his subjects. We have seen that he had specially advised his officials to afford facilities to his subjects and to encourage them so that they might follow the Dhamma. When he says that he had achieved the conquest by law (dhamma-vijaya) both within his empire and outside, he probably means that he had entrusted his officers with this mission within his own empire and deputed missionaries to the foreign countries.