Shudras in Ancient India: A Social History of the Lower Order down to circa A.D. 600 c11.273

c11.273

However the lower orders and the tribal people were a source of headache to Aśoka. His emphasis on showing consideration towards slaves and hired labourers indicates an atempt to pacify them. What is important, he made use of Buddhism to indoctrinate the frontier tribes and win them over to the existing social set-up. They were asked to observe dhamma, which would imply following the rules regarding patriarchal family, property and social orders. To those who defied and proved intrasigient Aśoka held out a veiled threat of punishment. In some cases Aśoka claims success in his efforts.