Correct Option
The correct option isAn Ashokan Inscription
Explanation
The history of Ashoka’s reign, particularly his transformation from a conqueror to a follower of non-violence (Ahimsa), is primarily reconstructed through his own edicts engraved on rocks and pillars. These inscriptions serve as the most authentic autobiographical accounts of his administration and personal beliefs.
Detailed Analysis
- The Arthashastra is incorrect: The Arthashastra is a treatise on statecraft, economic policy, and military strategy attributed to Kautilya (Chanakya). It was composed primarily during the reign of Chandragupta Maurya and does not contain historical records of Ashoka’s specific conquests or personal remorse.
- The Indika is incorrect: The Indika was written by Megasthenes, the Greek ambassador to the court of Chandragupta Maurya. It describes the administration, society, and geography of India during Chandragupta's time, not Ashoka's reign.
- An Ashokan Inscription is correct: The specific statement regarding the conquest of Kalinga occurring "eight years after the coronation" is found in Major Rock Edict XIII. In this edict, Ashoka explicitly expresses deep remorse and sorrow over the slaughter and suffering caused by the war, marking his shift towards Dhamma-ghosha (conquest by righteousness) over Bheri-ghosha (conquest by war).
- A Buddhist Jataka tale is incorrect: The Jataka tales are a voluminous body of literature native to India concerning the previous births of Gautama Buddha. While they are crucial for understanding the socio-economic conditions of ancient India, they are not historical records of Mauryan political events.
Key Takeaway
Major Rock Edict XIII is the primary historical source that details the Kalinga War, the scale of destruction, and Ashoka’s subsequent remorse and conversion to the path of Dhamma.