A History of Agriculture in India v1.c32.2

v1.c32.2

ASOKA succeeded Bindusara on the Mauryan throne in about 274 B.C. During the early part of his reign, he conquered Kalinga (Orissa) and Ganjam. In this war the Kalingas suffered heavy casualties and 150,000 were taken prisoners. Asoka had a feeling of remorse when he saw the horrors of war, and the slaughter of men in thousands. After the Kalinga war, he became a Buddhist and abjured violence.