Consider the following statements with respect to King Asoka: 1. His conversion to Buddhism was not gradual but immediate. 2. Asoka’s inscriptions mention the southernmost kingdoms – Cholas, Pandyas, Satyaputras and Keralaputras – as border-states. Which among the following above given statements is/are incorrect?

Option 1 : 1 only

The correct answer is Only 1.

• Asoka’s inscriptions mention the southernmost kingdoms – Cholas, Pandyas, Satyaputras, and Keralaputras – as border-states. Hence statement 2 is correct.
  • Therefore these states remained outside the Mauryan Empire.
• According to some scholars, his conversion to Buddhism was gradual and not immediate. Hence statement 1 is incorrect.

• About 261 B.C. Asoka became a Sakya Upasaka (lay disciple) and two and a half years later, a Bhikshu (monk).
• Then he gave up hunting, visited Bodh-Gaya, and organized missions.
• He appointed special officers called Dharma Mahamatras to speed up the progress of Dhamma.