Ashoka Vardhana Maurya was as fierce, courageous and proficient kid right from the

beginning, but he had no mentor in the form of Chanakya. Unlike, Chandragupt where his
target was the Nanda King, Ashokas huge time was spent in battling with his own family
members.

File:Indian Relief
from Amaravati, Guntur Preserved in Guimet Museum
Image Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons
Here we share some of the important insights in the early life of Samrat Ashoka

Ashoka was born to a low ranked wife of Bindusar whose

son was destined to become a Chakravartin

Ashokas mother Subhadrangi (also known as Dharma) was a low ranked queen of Bindusar.
Unlike other queens she was not a princess but a daughter of a poor Brahmin. However, she was
fair and beautiful. Whats more, her son was destined to become a Chakravartin Samrat and this
is the reason why the poor Brahmin brought his daughter to Pataliputra to marry King Bindusar.
King Bindusar introduced her in his womens apartment, and as expected all his wives became
jealous of her.
Even the chief queen was so insure that they unanimously made her a barber girl. However, she
surprised the King with her service. And when the king got to know that she is not an ordinary
girl but his own wife, he granted her wish to become a mother of his son. This is when Ashoka
was born ending all the sorrows of Subhadrangi.

Ashoka was not liked by his father Bindusar at all

Although the historical fiction Chakravartin Ashoka Samrat displays a very unique and special
bond between Samrat Bindusar and Ashoka, the truth is that the king had no soft corner for
Ashoka. In fact, according to the chronicles since Ashoka was not a good looking boy, he was
looked down by his own father. However, Ashoka made his own spot among his brothers by his
exceptional valour, skills and courage.

Ashoka Left His First Wife Devi in Ujjain Itself, when he

was called back in Pataliputra Again
When Ashoka was 18, he was sent to Ujjain as a viceroy. This is the time when he met his first
wife Devi who was daughter of a merchant from Vidisha. They both married. In fact, Ashokas
son and daughter (Mahendra and Sanghamitra) who are famous for spreading Buddhism were
the children of Devi only.
However, when Ashoka was called by the Samrat again in Pataliputra, he went alone without
taking his family. It is said that since Devi was a daughter of a merchant she was not fit to
become a princes wife. So, although Devi was his first wife, his other wife Asandhimitra (a
daughter of a king) became his chief queen.

Samrat Bindusar Even Exiled Ashoka from his Kingdom

Bindusars favorite son Sushim had huge problems with Ashoka for the mere reason that Ashoka
was much more efficient and courageous than him. So, he did not leave any chance to create
problems in Ashokas life. This is the reason why he insisted Bindusar to send Ashoka to Taxila
to stop the revolt of Taxila which was under the governorship of Sushim. However, when Ashoka
went, he could surpass the revolt just by his talks. This infuriated Sushim further as his plan
failed.

Next, Sushim filled Samrat Bindusars ear against Ashoka which resulted in Ashokas exile from
Pataliputra. This period lasted for two years. This is the phase when Ashoka met Kaurwaki, a
fisherwoman and his future wife.

The Constant Suffering Made Him Kill His Own Brothers

After Samrat Bindusars death there was a war of succession between the brothers. In this war of
succession, Ashoka killed all his brothers leaving just Tishya, his younger brother alive.
Although there are texts which highlights that he killed his 99 brothers, the truth lies in the fact
that he killed just six of his brothers.
This is some of the facts from the early life of Ashoka, the great. Nevertheless, though
Chakravartin Ashoka Samrat was born with a silver spoon, he had to face a lot of hardships in his
early life.