Ashoka’s Dhamma and Internal Policy
Ancient History › Mauryan Empire · Topic 6.7
Ashoka’s dhamma was a code of social conduct: paternal kingship, obedience to parents, respect for brahmanas and monks, mercy to slaves and animals, tolerance among sects and loyalty to the king. He appointed dhammamahamatras and rajukas, banned animal sacrifice in the royal kitchen, sent missions abroad and held that good conduct leads to heaven, not nirvana.
5 min read · UPSC Prelims · History · Mauryan Empire
At a Glance
- Ideal Paternal kingship
- Special officers Dhammamahamatras and rajukas
- Tolerance Amity among all sects
- Reward Heaven, not nirvana
- Missions Sri Lanka, South India, Burma
- Exam link UPSC Prelims, Ancient History: Mauryan Empire
Where Does It Fit?
This is the seventh topic of the category on the Mauryan Empire. The previous topic covered the Kalinga war, and this one covers the policy that followed. The next topic covers Ashokan inscriptions. Previous topic: Kalinga War and its Impact. The modern constitutional idea of tolerance is in Secular State.
What Was Ashoka’s Ideal of Kingship?
In short: Ashoka set the ideal of a father who looks on all subjects as his children.
Ashoka set a very high ideal for himself, that of paternal kingship. He repeatedly asked his officials to tell his subjects that the king looked upon them as his children. As the agents of the king, officials were also asked to take care of the people. Another account notes that he told his yuktas, rajjukas and pradesikas to go on tours every five years to instruct people in dhamma (Major Rock Edict 3), and that he stressed the wish for his people to gain welfare and happiness in this world and the next. He insisted on being informed promptly about public affairs wherever he might be (Major Rock Edict 6). Ashoka appointed dhammamahamatras to spread dhamma among social groups, including women, and appointed rajukas for the administration of justice. This is an alternative model of a righteous king and a just state. The war that led to the policy is in Kalinga War and its Impact.
| Officer | Role |
|---|---|
| Dhammamahamatras | Spread dhamma among various social groups, including women |
| Rajukas | Rural administrators with authority to reward and punish; administer justice |
| Yuktas and pradesikas | Subordinate and district officials who toured every five years to teach dhamma |
What Did the Dhamma Teach?
Ashoka’s inscriptions, called dhammalipi, cover religion and morality, and also social and administrative matters, so they can be compared with the Dharmashastras. He disapproved of rituals, especially those observed by women. He forbade killing certain birds and animals, banned the slaughter of animals in the royal kitchen and in sacrifices, and prohibited gay social gatherings with excess revelry. People were to obey parents, pay respect to brahmanas and Buddhist monks, and show mercy to slaves and servants. Above all the dhammalipi asked for firm devotion (dridha bhakti) or loyalty to the king. These instructions are found in both Buddhist and brahmanical faiths. Ashoka taught people to live and let live and stressed compassion towards animals and proper behaviour towards relatives. The aim was to strengthen the family and existing social classes, and to maintain the social order on the basis of tolerance. He held that good behaviour would lead to heaven, but never said it would lead to nirvana, the goal of Buddhist teaching. Another account adds that he ordered hospitals for people and animals (Major Rock Edict 2) and that all religions should co-exist and ascetics of every faith be honoured (Major Rock Edicts 7 and 12).
| Teaching | Detail |
|---|---|
| Family and society | Obey parents; respect brahmanas and monks; mercy to slaves and servants |
| Non-violence | Ban on killing certain animals and on slaughter in the royal kitchen and sacrifices |
| Ritual | Disapproval of rituals, especially those of women |
| Tolerance | Amity among sects; honour to ascetics of all religions |
| Loyalty | Firm devotion to the king |
| Welfare | Hospitals for people and animals |
Was It a Religion and How Far Did It Spread?
Ashoka’s dhamma was not narrow and cannot be regarded as a sectarian faith. His Kandahar Greek inscription preaches amity between sects, and he made gifts to non-Buddhist and even anti-Buddhist sects. According to tradition, he became a monk, made huge gifts to Buddhists and went on pilgrimages to Buddhist shrines, and his inscriptions mention dhamma yatras. Another account says the Third Buddhist Council was convened at Pataliputra in about 250 BCE, and that missions were sent to Kashmir, South India, Sri Lanka and Burma. According to popular belief, he sent his children Mahinda and Sanghamitta to Sri Lanka with a branch of the original bodhi tree. Brahmi inscriptions of the second and first centuries BC have been found in Sri Lanka. The dhamma also served as a tool of acculturation: tribes were exhorted to follow dhamma and the policy encouraged a settled, taxpaying society, as Ashoka says hunters and fishermen gave up killing and took to a settled life. The council is in Buddhist Councils, Decline of Buddhism and its Significance.
As an analytical point, the dhamma combined ethics with statecraft: it promoted harmony and loyalty in a diverse empire, which is why it could be preached by officials and not only monks. It also provoked the reaction described in Pushyamitra Shunga Chief causes Reaction, finance, oppression, frontier…">Causes of the Decline of the Mauryan Empire, and the edicts that record it are covered in Ashokan Inscriptions.
Why Is This Topic Important?
- Standard question Nature of dhamma
- Governance Special officers
- Culture Missions abroad
What Came Next?
The next topic describes the Ashokan inscriptions. Next topic: Ashokan Inscriptions.
Key People and Terms
- Dhamma Ashoka’s code of conduct
- Dhammalipi Edicts of dhamma
- Dhammamahamatra Officer to propagate dhamma
- Rajuka Rural administrator
- Dridha bhakti Firm devotion to the king
- Dhamma yatra Tour or pilgrimage for dhamma
Exam Corner
Points to Remember
- Ideal: paternal kingship.
- Dhammamahamatras appointed for dhamma.
- Reward: heaven, not nirvana.
- Royal kitchen: no animal slaughter.
- Not a sectarian faith.
Do Not Confuse With
- Dhamma and Buddhism Ethical code versus a religion
- Dhammamahamatra and rajuka Moral officer versus administrator-judge
- Heaven and nirvana Ashoka’s promise versus Buddhist goal
Memory Hook
A father-king, officers of dhamma, tolerance for all; heaven for the good, not nirvana.
Mains Angle
Questions ask about the nature and impact of dhamma. These points add depth.
- Ethics Family, animals, tolerance
- State Special officers
- Reach Missions
A Question You May Face
An original practice question, not a past paper question.
“Examine the nature of Ashoka’s dhamma. Was it a religion?”
How to Answer
- Ideal Paternal kingship.
- Content Social ethics.
- Means Officers, edicts.
- Verdict Not sectarian.
GS Relevance
Frequently Asked Questions
What was Ashoka's dhamma?
Ashoka's dhamma was a code of social conduct recorded in his inscriptions. It asked people to obey parents, respect brahmanas and monks, show mercy to slaves and animals, tolerate other sects and be loyal to the king, and it was not a sectarian religion.
Who were the dhammamahamatras?
Dhammamahamatras were officers appointed by Ashoka to propagate dhamma among various social groups, including women. They worked alongside rajukas, who were rural administrators with authority to administer justice and to reward and punish people as needed.
Did Ashoka promise nirvana through dhamma?
No. Ashoka held that people who behaved well would go to heaven, but he never said they would attain nirvana, which was the goal of Buddhist teachings. His dhamma aimed to maintain the existing social order on the basis of tolerance.
Which animal-related rules did Ashoka introduce?
Ashoka forbade killing certain birds and animals, prohibited the slaughter of animals in the royal kitchen and banned the slaughter of animals in sacrifices. He also ordered hospitals for both people and animals, according to another account.
How did Ashoka spread Buddhism abroad?
According to tradition, the Third Buddhist Council at Pataliputra decided to send missionaries to regions including Kashmir, South India, Sri Lanka and Burma, and Ashoka's children Mahinda and Sanghamitta are said to have gone to Sri Lanka with a bodhi tree branch.
PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis
1 Ashoka's dhamma promised nirvana to those who followed it.
He said good conduct leads to heaven.
2 Rajukas were appointed for the administration of justice.
They could reward and punish.
3 Ashoka banned the slaughter of animals in the royal kitchen.
This was part of his non-violence policy.
4 The dhamma was a sectarian Buddhist faith imposed on all subjects.
He promoted amity between sects and gave gifts to non-Buddhist sects.
Related Topics
Browse the full Ancient History index