The Mauryan Polity c11.s1.t3.15

c11.s1.t3.15

4. Aśoka feels satisfied that he has succeeded everywhere by extending the dharmavijaya, but adds that that satisfaction is of little consequence since his goal is the attainment of heaven. If dharmavijaya means ‘conquest by morality’, there is no occasion for Aśoka’s remark that dharmavijaya is of little consequence and the heaven is of much consequence and that is to be won by peaceful means and will be more stable and more effective. To achieve this a separate department was instituted and it was manned by officers called dharma-mahāmātras. Anything relating to this department was prefixed by the term dharma, such as dharma-lipi, dharma-gosha, dharma-maṅgala, dharma-sambandha, etc. Though the details of this department are not found in the Kauṭalīya, yet there is mention in it of some kind of that institution. But Kauṭalya’s recommendations are to a large extent creative and aid to spread a moral atmosphere and a moral force in the administration of the land. In fact, it is laid down that it is the duty of the best of kings to aim at the practice and observance of such moral virtues and qualities. Though this was expected of all the Kṣatriya monarchs, yet those who were occupied more with wars and foreign policy, could have had no time to attend to the internal progress on peaceful lines.