Ashoka was already the ruler of a vast empire.But Kalinga, his southern neighbor, was still free. his, he could not bear. Eight years after he became king, he decided to attack this state. And he was determined to cripple Kalinga forever.

Compared to Magadha, Kalinga was a small state. But the Kalingas were a freedom-loving people, with a great sense of self-respect. They fought fearlessly for their freedom. But before Ashoka's mighty army it all proved useless.Kalinga became subordinate to Ashoka.

One of the stone edicts of Ashoka describes this terrible war as follow, "Eight years after he became king,Ashoka,known as 'Devanampriya' (the favorite of the Gods) conquer Kalinga. He took one hundred and fifty thousand persons as prisoners; another hundred thousand were killed; the injured were countless."

Ashoka saw with his own eyes the horror of the war. He could not bear the sight of the death, destruction and suffering that the war had wrought.

Blood flowed like a stream. The battlefield was full of the dead bodies of men and animals. The cry of the wounded and the dying was unbearable. His heart melted. I shall not fight again," he decided. He embraced Buddhism, which lays stress on non-violence.