Tribes in Ancient India c50.134

c50.134

Bindusāra was succeeded by his son Aśoka, who is said to have won undivided sovereignty over all Jambudvīpa after slaying all his brothers except the youngest, Tissa. Aśoka reigned without coronation for four years,⁷ and then consecrated himself as king in the city of Pāṭaliputra.⁸ He assumed the title of Devānaṃpiya⁹ (‘dear to the gods’), and loved to speak of himself as Devānaṃpiyadasi. The name Aśoka is found only in literature, and in two inscriptions, viz. the Maski Edict of Aśoka himself, and the Junāgaḍh Inscription of the Mahākṣatrapa Rudradāman. Aśoka was at first called Caṇḍāsoka on account of his evil deeds, but he later became known as Dhammāsoka on account of his meritorious deeds.¹⁰ The Sarnath Inscription of Kumāradevī mentions the name Dharmāśoka.