History chronicles innumerable kings who were brave conquerors and valiant soldiers. But Ashoka stands above them all because he is the only one who at the zenith of his conquests saw the futility of violence and had the courage to renounce it. That is why, H.G. Wells in his ‘Short History of The World’ says that Ashoka’s ‘‘reign for eight and twenty years was one of the brightest interludes in the troubled history of mankind.’ Wells goes on to say, ‘‘Such was Ashoka, the greatest of kings. He was far in advance of his age.” This volume is based on the original research of the author into Mahavamsa, Dipavamsa, Commentary on Mahavamsa, and the edicts of Ashoka. Pali manu- scripts and other secondary sources have also been extensively studied in gleaning facts which should: kindle a new interest in Ashoka. Published by H.G.Mirchandani for India Book House Education Trust, 29, Wodehouse Road, Bombay - 400 039 and printed by A.C. Chobe at IBH Printers, Marol Naka, Mathuradas Vissanji Road, Andheri (East), Bombay- 400059. Editor: Anant Pai Written by; Meena Talim Mustrated by : Ram WaeerkerASHOKA WAS THE SON OF KING BINDUSARA WO RULED INDIA FROM HIS CAPITAL OF PATALIPUTRA IN THE THIRD CENTURY B.C. HE EXCELLED HIS BROTHERS IN THE ART OF WAR. THEREFORE, WHEN A REBELLION BROKE OUT IN THE DISTANT PROVINCE OF TAXILA, HE WAS SENT TO SUPPRESS IT.WEEKS LATER - HE SHALL RULE THERE AS THE VICEROY. HE WILL KEEP: YOUR MAJESTY! WE HAVE HAPPY NEWS HERE. ASHOKA HAS SUCCESSFULLY BINDUSARA HAD A HUNDRED SONS BESIDES ASHOBA. THEY WERE NOT HAPPY TO HEAR THE NEWS. i pS LB iT WILL ae os . Z MAKE HIM PROUD. MORE SUCCESS WiLLSS ] BUT THEY WERE UNHAPPIER STILL, WHEN THE KING RECALLED ASHOKA | | FROM TAXILA. ASHOKA ESPECIALLY BACK IN THE WITH OUR CAPITAL. OLD FATHER | DON?T DEPENDING LIKE IT. ON HIM,THAT 1S EXACTLY WHAT WORRIES ME. ASHOKA IS RUTHLESS. HE MAY FIGHT WITH HIS. BROTHERS FOR THE pe A REBELLION - mem, THIS TIME Iv USSAIN . SEND FORTHE PROVINCE \ OF UJJAINI NEEDS AN ABLE BUT THE VICEROYV DESIGNATE... f ... WILL HAVE TO CRUSH THE REBELS THERE. YOU ALONE ~ CAN BO IT.THIS IS VIDISHA-NAGAR, SIR.ALITTLE LATER=- ASHOKA WAS CHARMED BY THE BEAUTY OF THE LEADER — OF THE GROUP. : EXCUSE ME, LADY. WE ARE ON OUR TO WHICH TEMPLE WAY TO THE CHAITYA. ~\ARE YOU GOING ? NOT TO A TEMPLE.THEN YOU ARE BUDDHISTS. LOVELY AS THIS PLACE, AND SUCH WHOSE , PARENTS, sR?SIR! SHE IS THE DAUGHTER OF A REPUTED SHRESHTHI?S * FAMILY. TELL THE SHRESHTHI! 1...YES. | WANT THE HAND OFAFTER A QUICK WEDDING, HE PROCEEDED /, TOWARDS UA. 7 ASHOKA,/A GREAT WARRIOR, IN NO TIME ROUTED THE REBELS.PEOPLE OF THE CITY GAVE ASHOKA A GRAND WELCOME. my) THIS IS AN OCCASION 3 1 DISLIKE KILLING... EVEN IN BATTLES... | ESPECIALLY THAT'S SILLY. YOU SAY IT, BECAUSE YOU ARE A BUDDHIST ,LAMA KSHATRIVA WHAT ABOUT KING. wie BIMBISARA? MY DUTY i 7 HE TOO WAS ENJOINS A KING. KILLING , HE FOUND IF NEED ; PEACE IN THE BE. i TEACHINGS OF BUDDHA. IV: ecurcne t THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN ASHOKA AND VIDISHA PERSISTED. MONTHS LATER ,WHEN | ~ son! VIDISHA GAVE BIRTH TO A SON - 1 AM VERY HAPPY. | WILL NAME HIM *"MAHINDRA. HE WILL CONQUER THE ENTIRE WORLD. » Mm CONQUERS THE | HEARTS OF MEN = AS PRINCE SIDDHARTHA DID.TWO YEARS LATER, VIDISHA GAVE BIRTH TO A DAUGHTER. Lorp! THIS TIME, LET ME CHOOSE THE EeMY FATHER IS ILL 1 HAVE TO RUSH TO PATALIPUTRA . ASHOKA HAD HURRIED | \ HAVE RECEIVED CONSULTATIONS WITH | A MESSAGE FROM VIDISHA THE .CHIEF MINISTER. -.-AND YOU AREN?T YET FIT TO ACCOMPANY ME. WILL YOU STAY AT VIDISHA-NAGAR WITH YOUR PARENTS ? "LL SEND FOR YOU LATER.f | PLEASE TAKE CARE O YOUR HEALTHAT PATALIPUTRA, ASHOKA WAS RECEIVED B84 THE CHIEF MINISTER. THE THRONE! \>-2Z IT IS Mined | HAVE EARNED = THE RIGHT TO f oN [ASHOBA FORGOT ALL ABOUT THE PROMISE 7) aoe HE HAD MADE TO VIDISHA.ASHOKA WAS RUTHLESS IN KILLING ALL THOSE THAT CHALLENGED HIS RIGHT TO THE THRONE. SUMANADEV!, WIFE OF ONE OF HIS BROTHERS, WAS XPECTING A BABY AT THE TIME. | PRINCESS! | FEAR FOR | THE LIFE OF THE UNBORN | CHILD . PR 20.1009 99, ead DO YOU SUGGEST THAT | RUN AWAY FROM HERE ? BUT WHERE CAN | GO? | CAN SHOW YOU A SECRET DOOR, VOU CAN ESCAPE INTO THE ESCAPING FROM THE PALACE SUMANADEV! WANDERED IN THE FOREST.i AN OLD MAN, WHO WAS PASSING BY,| | SHE ACCOMPANIED HIM. WHILE THEY ee om THEIR WAY — TOOK PIT/ ON HER. IF YOU COME WITH ME TO MY VILLAGE , ss. WILL SeEeNGe IT WAS UNDER THAT NIGRODHA TREE DAUGHTER! oe THAT A BOY WAS BORN TO SAT MY HOME iS CLOSE BY. PLL FETCH MY WIFE. YOU REST UNDER THIS MGRODHA KUMAR GREW UP IN THAT VILLAGE AND. BECAME A MONK AT A VERY TENDER AGE.| MEANUIILE , ASHOKA HAD BECOME A POWERFUL | ‘VES, YOUR MAJESTY. eT EVEN TAXILA AND | BING. AT #5 COU) T MINISTER, IS UJUAINI ARE Z| g ay MY KINGDOM } e . PEACEFUL ? p ARE THE BORDERS STILL WE SHOULD NOT REST TILL KALINGA IS | IT 1S INDEPENDENT I | TODAY AND MAY i| ee ITS HEAD ANY COMMANDER! PREPARE FOR THE BATTLE.ASHOBA’S ARMY INVABED KALINGA . THE SOLDIERS OF KALINGA FOUGHT BRAVELY.a ae 5 AS HE F SAW HORRIBLE SIGHTS. ( HEAPS OF DEAD MEN! |" \ WE HAVE KILLED \ Over MANY. 1,00,000 MEN TO BE PRECISE, YOUR MAUESTY. ee MERCY! WE BEG FOR MERCY! WE_HAVE CAPTURED 1,50,000 MEN, YOUR MAVESTY. LAKHS HAVE DIED, YOUR MAVESTY.HE SAW THE SUCEERIN OF THE PEOPLE. | HAVE LosT my YOU! PEACE OF MAJESTY! : AREN’T TO ALB TO HIS GRIEF A MESSENGER CAME —— FROM VIDISHA-NAGAR. — he YOUR MAJESTY! | HAVE BROUGHT ; THIS LETTER FROM # VIDISHA DEVI. 4WHERE IS VIDISHA? UL go had ine B) te promise. 9 crm Dae Oe Children 40 you. Please 400, after thom Property Yours SHE PLANS TO JOIN THE SANGHA NCE OF HIS HE CONTINUED THE KILLINGS ONE DAY, FROM HIS PALACE WINDOW, HE SAW A MONK PASSING ALONG THE ROAD. WHO CAN THIS BE? WHY DO 1 FEEL DRAWN TOWARDS HIM ? fco! Quich! REQUEST THAT MONK WHEN THE MONK CAME — — VENERABLE ONE,} DON’T YOU WHO ARE YOU ? /SEE, WHO | AM? A BUDDHIST MY MOTHER CALLED ME NIGRODHA KUMAR. YES. 1 AM YOUR NEPHEW. | BROTHER’S > | CAN GUESS SON. >. — WHAT IS GOING ON IN YOURYou WHY SHOULD | ? HATE ME BECAUSE DON’T YOU KILLED MY FATHER 2 HATRED IS DESTRUCTIVE. tT SHOUD BE CONQUERED BY {Ss NOT THAT REASON ENOUGH TO HATE ANOTHER @ PRAY, WHERE DID YOU TEACHINGS LEARN THIS ? OF LORD AT SUCH A BUDDHA. TENDER THEY BRING AGE ? PEACE TO TROUBLEDMY MIND HAS +) THEN SEEK REFUGE IN BUDDHA. i) AS YOUR RA DISCIPLE ® | TAKE REFUGE IN THE BUDDHA. REFUGE IN FHE DHARMA .[a TRANSFORMATION CAME | ABOUT iN ASHOKA. ALL HIS | ATTENTION NOW WAS ON BRINGING PEACE AND HAPPINESS TO. THE PEOPLE. [FOR THE COMFORT OF TRAVELLERS, EVEN iN, THE WOCES. His BET: REST INSTRUCTIONS. ON ROCKS.| HAVE GIVEN AWAY ALL THINGS DEAR TO ME. EXCEPT YOUR CHILDREN. YOUR SON MUST ‘YOU, WISHES TO } MAHINDRA? IT IS JOIN THE WITH A HEAVY SANGHA. / HEART- BUT san GIVE YOU ERMISSION. FATHER, ALLOW ME TO JOIN THE NUNNERY.MY HUSBAND AND SON HAVE RENOUNCED THE WORLD. | TAKE NO PLEASURE IN LIFE. YOU MAY b JOIN THE NUNNERY. A MESSAGE HAS BEEN RECEIVED FATHER, baat | HAVE COME TO BID YOU GOOD-BYE.SANGHAMITRA , BE BRAVE. YOU ate oN On. FORGET SANGHAMIT! CAN BEAR GRIEF /, IS A MEMBER OF NO MORE. / Bem THE SANGHA. x: 7 UNDERSTAND. | WISH. You SUCCESS. GO, MY CHILD. OH! UIDISHA, YOUR CHILDREN HAVE LEFT ME JUST AS YOU AD. FOR THE SABE OF DHARMA.Sal Do NOT \\ GRIEVE.PILLAR +S CREATNESS, TH 70 PILLAR APOCRNS OU oie! NAHONAL LLae .