Statement I : King Ashoka abolished capital punishment and disbanded h

Statement I :
King Ashoka abolished capital punishment and disbanded his army.
Statement II :
After Kalinga War, Ashoka was remorseful and became a Buddhist.

T-55
T-155
T-72
T-90
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CDS-2 – 2016
Statement I is false, but Statement II is true.
– Statement I: While Ashoka promoted Dhamma and non-violence after the Kalinga War, he did not abolish capital punishment entirely (his edicts mention procedures related to it) and did not disband his army. The army was still used for administrative purposes and maintaining order.
– Statement II: The Kalinga War caused Ashoka immense remorse and suffering, leading him to embrace Buddhism more fully and adopt a policy of Dhamma based on peace, welfare, and moral conquest. This statement is historically accurate.
Ashoka’s conversion to Buddhism after the Kalinga War is a significant event in Indian history, marking a shift in his ruling philosophy from conquest to Dhamma vijaya (conquest by righteousness). His edicts spread the message of Dhamma throughout his vast empire.
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