| King | Reign | Key Facts |
|---|---|---|
| Chandragupta Maurya | 321 – 297 BC | Founded empire; defeated Dhana Nanda (with Chanakya); first to unify India; Seleucid war; Megasthenes as ambassador; converted to Jainism; died at Shravanabelagola by Sallekhana |
| Bindusara | 297 – 272 BC | 'Amitrochates' (slayer of enemies) by Greeks; expanded south into Deccan; conquered 16 states; correspondence with Seleucid king Antiochus I; father of Ashoka |
| Ashoka the Great | 268 – 232 BC | Greatest Mauryan king; Kalinga War (261 BC) → conversion to Buddhism; Dhamma policy; 33 Edicts; missionaries to Sri Lanka, Greece, Egypt; built 84,000 stupas |
| Post-Ashoka Decline | 232 – 185 BC | Weak successors; last king Brihadratha assassinated by general Pushyamitra Shunga (185 BC) |
Mauryan Empire — India's First Pan-Indian Empire
321 – 185 BC | Chandragupta → Bindusara → Ashoka | UPSC GS Paper I
Hey there! Welcome to KnowledgeKnot! Don't forget to share this with your friends and revisit often. Your support motivates us to create more content in the future. Thanks for being awesome!
📋 Ancient History Series
Mauryan Dynasty — Quick Overview
Chandragupta Maurya (321–297 BC)
→ Mentor Chanakya (Kautilya/Vishnugupta) — the PM who masterminded the whole strategy; wrote Arthashastra
→ Defeated Dhana Nanda (~321 BC) with guerrilla tactics; took control of Pataliputra
→ Seleucid War (~305 BC): Defeated Seleucus Nicator (Alexander's successor who wanted India back); Treaty: Seleucus gave Afghanistan, Balochistan, parts of Persia to Chandragupta; India sent 500 war elephants in return; Megasthenes came to Pataliputra as Seleucid ambassador
→ Megasthenes' Indica: Described Pataliputra as a magnificent city; 9-member municipal committee; organized administration
→ Converted to Digambara Jainism in old age; left throne for son Bindusara; went to Shravanabelagola (Karnataka) with Jain monk Bhadrabahu
→ Died by Sallekhana/Santhara (fasting to death — Jain practice)
→ First ruler to unify most of Indian subcontinent under a single authority
Ashoka the Great (268–232 BC)
Kalinga War — The Turning Point
→ Year: 261 BC — 9th year of Ashoka's reign
→ Scale: ~1,00,000 soldiers killed; ~1,50,000 taken captive; many more died from wounds, disease
→ Ashoka's reaction: Horrified by the suffering; his famous Rock Edict XIII records his remorse: "Even those who escape, suffer because of the loss of friends and family"
→ Consequence: Converted to Buddhism (under teacher Upagupta); gave up conquest of war (Bherighosha) for conquest of Dhamma (Dhammaghosha)
→ Kalinga = modern Odisha
Dhamma Policy
Ashoka's Dhamma (Pali for Dharma) was NOT just Buddhism — it was a universal secular code of ethics:
→ Respect for all religions and sects
→ Non-violence (reduction of animal slaughter; no eating of meat in royal kitchens)
→ Obedience to parents, elders, teachers
→ Truthfulness and compassion
→ Lack of extravagance and cruelty
Spread through: Dhamma Mahamattas — special officials touring the empire to spread Dhamma; inspection tours by Ashoka himself
Ashoka's Edicts — Complete Reference
| Type | Number | Content / Location |
|---|---|---|
| Major Rock Edicts | 14 | Dhamma principles for the empire; Rock Edict XIII describes Kalinga War; found at Girnar (Gujarat), Kandahar, Shahbazgarhi |
| Minor Rock Edicts | Several | Conversion to Buddhism; Bhabru Edict (most important — shows Ashoka's faith) |
| Major Pillar Edicts | 7 | Buddhist themes; Lion Capital Sarnath (India's national emblem!); Seven pillar edicts |
| Minor Pillar Edicts | Various | At stupas; Rummindei Pillar — marks birthplace of Buddha at Lumbini; Nigalisagar — marks Kanakamuni stupa |
| Cave Inscriptions | 3 | Barabar caves; donated to Ajivika monks |
⭐ Key Facts about Edicts
→ Script: Mostly in Brahmi (left to right); NW India in Kharoshthi; Afghanistan in Aramaic and Greek
→ Language: Mostly Prakrit; some in Greek and Aramaic
→ Decoded by: James Prinsep (1837) — British officer; deciphered Brahmi script
→ Lion Capital (Sarnath): Four lions on an abacus with 4 animals and 4 Dharma wheels; top emblem = India's national emblem; "Satyameva Jayate" (from Mundaka Upanishad) below it
Ashoka's Achievements
→ Buddhist missionaries sent: Son Mahendra and daughter Sanghamitra to Sri Lanka; others to Greece, Egypt, Syria, Macedonia (Antiochus), Cyrene (Magas), Epirus (Alexander), Macedonia (again)
→ Built 84,000 stupas (traditional claim) across empire
→ 3rd Buddhist Council at Pataliputra (250 BC) under his patronage; Moggaliputta Tissa presided
→ Hospital roads built; shady trees planted on roadsides; rest houses (dharamshalas) for travelers
→ Dug wells and planted herbs for humans and animals
→ Rummindei Pillar at Lumbini (Nepal) — reduced tax of Lumbini village to 1/8 (others paid 1/4) recognizing it as Buddha's birthplace
Mauryan Administration
Structure of Government
| Level | Unit | Official | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central | Empire | Emperor (Samrat) | Assisted by Mantriparishad (Council of Ministers); PM = Mahamantrin/Amatya |
| Central departments | — | Various Adhyakshas | Revenue = Samaharta; Treasury = Sannidhata; Army = Senapati; Public Works |
| Provincial | 4 major provinces | Kumara (princes) or Viceroy | Taxila (NW), Ujjain (W), Tosali (E/Kalinga), Suvarnagiri (S) |
| District | Ahara/Vishaya | Rajuka / Amatya | Revenue collection; justice in districts |
| Village | Grama | Gramika (village head) | Basic administrative unit |
Arthashastra — Kautilya's Treatise
→ Written by Kautilya / Chanakya / Vishnugupta — Chandragupta's prime minister
→ Rediscovered: by R. Shamasastry in a library in 1904 and published in 1909
→ Content: Treatise on statecraft, economic policy, military strategy, and administration
→ Saptanga (7 elements) of state: Svamin (king), Amatya (ministers), Janapada (territory/people), Durga (fortified capital), Kosha (treasury), Danda (military), Mitra (allies)
→ Mandala Theory (foreign policy): Your neighbor = enemy; neighbor's neighbor = friend; concentric circles of policy
→ Spy system (Guptacharas): Detailed espionage network — male and female spies in disguise; key to Mauryan control
Pataliputra — The Magnificent Capital
→ Located at junction of Ganga, Son, Gandak rivers (modern Patna)
→ Megasthenes (Indica): 9 miles long, 1.5 miles wide; 570 towers; 64 gates; surrounded by moat 600 feet wide, 30 feet deep
→ Municipal administration (Astynomoi): 30-member body divided into 6 committees of 5 each — looking after roads, census, trade, industry, tax, and foreigners
→ Wooden city: Mostly wooden structures; buried under soil for centuries
Decline of Mauryan Empire
| Reason | Details |
|---|---|
| Weak successors | After Ashoka (232 BC), rapidly weakening kings; last king Brihadratha was incapable |
| Over-centralisation | Empire too vast to administer; peripheral regions became autonomous |
| Financial strain | Ashoka's welfare works + army maintenance drained treasury |
| Brahmin resentment (Romila Thapar's view) | Ashoka's pro-Buddhist policy and ban on animal sacrifice angered Brahmin priests |
| Military weakness | Neglect of military after Kalinga; invasions by Bactrian Greeks from NW |
| Pushyamitra Shunga | General Pushyamitra Shunga assassinated Brihadratha in 185 BC during military parade |
Quick Revision
✅ Must-Know for Prelims
→ Arthashastra: Kautilya/Chanakya; rediscovered by R. Shamasastry (1904)
→ Indica: Megasthenes (Seleucid ambassador to Chandragupta's court)
→ Chandragupta died: Shravanabelagola, by Sallekhana (Jain fasting)
→ Bindusara's Greek name: Amitrochates
→ Kalinga War: 261 BC (9th regnal year of Ashoka)
→ Ashoka's Dhamma decoded by: James Prinsep (1837)
→ 3rd Buddhist Council: Pataliputra, 250 BC, Moggaliputta Tissa
→ Lion Capital = India's national emblem; from Sarnath pillar
→ Mauryan ended: 185 BC by Pushyamitra Shunga
📖 Continue Reading
Suggetested Articles