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KALINGA UNDER THE MAURYAS 161 although he was not free from the provocations to war from the many unsubdued peoples of India. His deliberate policy was now cnunciated thus--"Even if any one does positive harm to him, he would be considered worthy of forgiveness by the Devānāmpriya so far as he can possibly be forgiven” (R. E. XIII). And, his message in respect of the unsubdued borders was—"The King desires that they should have no fear of me, that they should trust me and should receive from me happiness, not sorrow" (Separate Kalinga Edict II). This is in effect the doctrine of the equality of all States, great or small in sovereignty and liberty, which the modern world is striving so hard to establish. But Asoka conceived it and gave effect to it successfully.
Regarding the change both in personal and in public life, Aśoka says in Rock Edict XIII - Directly after the conquest of Kalinga, he (the King) has become keen in the pursuit of Dharma (Dharmaśīlana), love of Dharma (Dharmalcāmatā) and also in the inculcation of Dharma (Dharmānuśasti). Thus he affected a change in his personal religion and adopted Buddhism, which, of all the then prevailing religions in India, stood up most for the principles of Ahirsā or non-violence (leaving aside Jainism of course).
It is not easy to understand, why Asoka, the head of a great military empire, which had been acquired in no very remote time through wars and conquests should have been so deeply affected and become conscious striken by his experience of what were in those days the familiar horrors of war. There must surely have been some preparation for so great a change. Probably, the teachings of the followers of the Buddha had impressed him more than
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