Page 65 - SST Class 06

at Lumbini bears an inscription which, in English
translation, runs as follows :

King Piyadasi (Ashoka), Beloved of Devas, in the
20 years of the coronation, himself made a royal
visit, Buddha Sakyamuni having been born here,
a stone railing was built and a stone pillar erected
to the Bhagavan having been born here, Lumbini
village was taxed reduced and entitled to the
eighth part (only).
The most famous pillar with its four lion figures is
now at the Sarnath Museum. This Ashokan The Pillar at Lumbini at the Exact Spot
where Buddha was Born
capital is India’s national emblem.
Brahmins of his empire. Since Ashoka banned
animal sacrifice it stopped the income of
Brahmins who received gifts in form of various
kinds of sacrifices made to them.

Huge Expenditure on Army and Bureaucracy
During Mauryan age a huge expenditure was
done on maintaining army and bureaucracy.
Moreover, Ashoka, during his reign, made large
grants to the Buddhist monks which made the
royal treasury empty. The Mauryan kings who
succeeded Ashoka faced the financial crunch.
Dhamek Stupa at Sarnath Set Up by Ashoka
Oppressive Rule in Provinces
END OF THE ASHOKAN EMPIRE
The provincial rulers in Magadhan Empire were
The decline of the Maurya Dynasty was rather
often corrupt and oppressive. This led to frequent
rapid after the death of Ashoka/Asoka. One
rebellions against the empire. During the reign of
obvious reason for it was the succession of weak
Bindusara, the citizens of Taxila complained
kings. Another immediate cause was the partition
against the misrule of wicked bureaucrats.
of the Empire into two. Had not the partition
taken place, the Greek invasions could have
been held back giving a chance to the Mauryas
to re-establish some degree of their previous
power. Mauryan Empire began to decline after
the death of Ashoka in 232 BC. The last king was
Brihadratha was assassinated by his general
Pushyamitra Shunga who was a Brahmin.
The factors which led to the decline of Mauryan
Empire are as following :

The Religious Policy of Ashoka
The religious policy of Ashoka antagonised the The Ashokan Capital

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