Ashoka: Portrait of a Philosopher King Hardcover – 27 Feb. 2024

Excellent

It is a great idea to write about Ashoka using his own words etched in stone. I found it a bit repetitive though. It could be condensed significantly. Reading about Ashoka calmed me down considerably, when looking at the current leadership in Europe and America.

One of the greatest amongst Emperors in the World, remembered as Emperor of Emperors, Emperor Asóka (remover of sorrows from the life of his mother upon his birth), referred himself, "Devanampiya Piyadassi" in Pali script (Beloved of Gods, Affection and Regards for all). Asóka successfully ascended the throne in 268 BCE after a grim struggle with brothers that lasted two years upon the death of his father. Conquests followed to create unified Bharat, "Akhand Bharat" as envisioned by his Guru Chanakya, and later by his father, King Bindusara while trying to remove miseries amongst the masses, ended creating unbelievable miseries in the process. The moment of realisation, as envisaged by a Buddhist monk, came at the end of Kalinga War in 261 BCE, when he was confronted by his beloved wife Princess Karuvaki of Kalinga, leading the army that refused to follow the diktat of Emperor Asóka, fought the war to its bitter end. With over one lakh in casualties that turned the soil and the river red in one single day. Asóka then changed his patron of thinking that he learnt from his mother, Subhadrangi aka "Dharma" coined by King Bindusara, turned to ahimsa and took up Buddhism spread far and wide world over by his children, Prince Mahendra and Princess Sanghmitra borne from Queen Devi, his first wife. The edicts unearthed has the text inscribed upon them that deals on the ways to ably guide the subjects in one unified nation with ways to live at peace amidst harmony to lead healthy and prosperous life.It is surprising that the author is a learned Professor who teaches Sanskrit in the University of Texas Austin (USA), has brought out these details in a very interesting manner.This book is worth reading and ought to be a prized collection on one of the greatest Emperors in the history of our great nation!

Very good read for history lovers

Received in very good condition excited to read