He oversaw 40 years of peace and prosperity in his empire
Ashoka was a violent guy in his early years as a prince and monarch, according to both North Indian and Sri Lankan Buddhist traditions. He is referred to as "Chandashoka" (Ashoka the terrible) in the Ashokavadana, which details some of his violent acts during his early reign.
Kalinga, on the Indian subcontinent's east coast, in what is now the state of Odisha and northern Andhra Pradesh, was an affluent region with key ports and a powerful fleet. In the eighth year of his reign, approximately 262 BCE, Ashoka set his sights on the kingdom. A vast Mauryan army marched to Kalinga, and Ashoka was victorious after a terrible battle. However, nearly 100,000 soldiers and civilians were murdered in the terrible conflict, including over 10,000 members of Ashoka's tribe. Another 150,000 people were captured as prisoners, and many more were afflicted by starvation, damage, and the aftermath of the conflict. According to popular belief, Ashoka began to feel guilt and was deeply saddened by the massacre that occurred during this conflict. As a result, he became a Buddhist.
The regret of this atrocity caused Ashoka to devote himself to the practice and dissemination of dharma, according to Major Edict 13 of Ashoka. Ashoka declares that he now finds the carnage, death, and expulsion that occurs during the invasion of a country to be unpleasant and disgusting, and that he finds the suffering of religious people and householders to be even more so. It's worth noting, however, that the decree, which can be found engraved in various places around Ashoka's empire, is missing from the Kalinga region. Furthermore, there is no mention of guilt in the inscriptions unearthed in the Kalinga area. There is also scant evidence linking Ashoka's discussion of Buddhism with the Kalinga war. His conversion is dated to his 4th regnal year, and he built 84,000 viharas between his 5th and 7th regnal years, according to Sri Lankan sources. He became a Buddhist around the same time, according to a small rock edict issued in his 13th regnal year.
Other military activities of Ashoka are not mentioned in ancient writings. Later in his reign, the Emperor became known as Dhammashoka after embracing Dharma (Dhamma in Pali). In the field of inter-state relations, his new policy of peace and non-violence marked the start of more than 40 years of relative peace, harmony, and prosperity.
