The Mauryan Polity c8.s1.t6.1

c8.s1.t6.1

This ideal government of the Kauṭaliya became actually realised under Aśoka. His *dharmavijaya*⁵ has been anticipated by Kauṭalya to a large extent. Besides this mere inference from an elaborate statement of the means enabling the *dharmavijaya*, Kauṭalya gives us elsewhere¹ three kinds of victories which depend on the nature and quality of the rulers for the time being.² These are *dharmavijaya* where the conquering king is satisfied with the mere acknowledgment of his suzerainty by the conquered, *lobhavijaya* where the aim of the conquering monarch is to covet the territory and treasure of the enemy and then continue him in his kingdom, and *asuravijaya* where the enemy is deprived of his kingdom, treasure, sons and wives, and is himself captured as a prisoner of war, or slain. In the light of these statements in the *Arthaśāstra*, it would be incorrect to give a new interpretation to the term *dharmavijaya* occurring in the Aśokan inscriptions. F. J. Monahan who followed the old interpretation of *dhammavijaya* has remarked as follows: "As to the precise nature and effects of this 'conquest' we are left in the dark; it is unfortunate that Greek records are silent on the subject. From the edict we gather that 'conquest' was made through envoys (*dūta*). They were sent to the various countries to preach, not Buddhism, but 'dhamma', and in Aśoka's view, as we know, 'dhamma' was compatible with adherence to various creeds. We may infer that the envoys were politely received."³