What was Ashoka's theory of conquest by dharma?
My understanding of conquest by dharma is not one of subjugation but of moral persuasion and transformation. It is the path I chose after witnessing the immense suffering of the Kalinga War. True conquest, I declared, is conquest by dharma. This involves spreading righteousness and the principles of non-violence, compassion, and respect for all religions through teaching and example, not through the sword. My edicts, such as those on the Pillar Edicts, communicate these principles, aiming to win the hearts and minds of my subjects and all beings.