Kalinga
Explanation
The expansion of the Mauryan Empire reached its zenith under Emperor Ashoka. The conquest of Kalinga is the most significant military event of his reign, detailed in the 13th Major Rock Edict.- Magadha is Incorrect: Magadha was the heartland of the Mauryan Empire, corresponding to the modern districts of Patna and Gaya in Bihar. It was the center of power from which the empire expanded, not the coastal region conquered by Ashoka.
- Kalinga is Correct: Kalinga was an ancient independent kingdom located on the eastern coast of India, corresponding to present-day Odisha and parts of northern Andhra Pradesh. Ashoka conquered Kalinga in the eighth year of his coronation (c. 261 BCE). The massive loss of life during this war prompted Ashoka to renounce violence and adopt Dhamma.
- Vatsa is Incorrect: Vatsa was a Mahajanapada located in the central Gangetic plain, around the modern city of Prayagraj (Allahabad) in Uttar Pradesh. Its capital was Kaushambi.
- Avanti is Incorrect: Avanti was a powerful Mahajanapada in western India, corresponding to the Malwa region of Madhya Pradesh, with its capital at Ujjain. It had been incorporated into the Magadhan empire prior to Ashoka's reign; Ashoka himself served as the Viceroy of Ujjain as a prince.
Key Takeaway: Kalinga corresponds to the coastal region of modern Odisha. The Kalinga War (c. 261 BCE) was the only major war fought by Ashoka after his accession, leading to his embrace of Buddhism.