Learn How to Pronounce Ashoka | YouPronounce.it
How to Pronounce Ashoka
(Listen to the audio below for the stress and intonation)
Meaning and Context
Ashoka the Great, reigning as the third emperor of the Maurya Dynasty from approximately 268 to 232 BCE, presided over an empire that stretched from present-day Afghanistan to Bangladesh, representing one of the largest and most powerful political entities in ancient Indian history. His legacy, however, is defined not by military conquest but by a profound spiritual and ethical transformation following the brutal Kalinga War. Horrified by the war's carnage, Ashoka embraced the teachings of Buddhism, becoming a paragon of dharma (righteousness) and dedicating his reign to principles of nonviolence (ahimsa), compassion, and social welfare. This pivotal shift is immortalized in the Ashoka Pillars and Rock Edicts inscribed across the subcontinent, which served as public proclamations of his policies and philosophical tenets. His patronage was instrumental in spreading Buddhism beyond India, sending missionaries as far as Sri Lanka and Central Asia, and cementing his status as an ideal Buddhist king and a unique figure in ancient Indian history. The Ashoka Chakra, the 24-spoked wheel from one of his pillars, remains a central symbol on the national flag of India, a lasting testament to his enduring influence on Indian culture and governance.
Common Mistakes and Alternative Spellings
The standard and historically accurate transliteration from Sanskrit is "Ashoka," which is the most widely accepted spelling in English. A common variant is "Asoka," which omits the 'h' and is an older transliteration still found in some historical texts and scholarly works. Frequent misspellings and typos arise from phonetic guesses or autocorrect errors, such as "Ashoke," "Ashok," "Asok," or "Ashkoa." It is also sometimes incorrectly combined with his title as "King Ashoka" or "Emperor Ashoka," though "Ashoka the Great" or "Emperor Ashoka Maurya" are more precise. Confusion can also occur with the similar-sounding "Ashok," which is a common modern Indian first name and the name of a tree (Saraca asoca), but these are distinct from the emperor.
Example Sentences
The profound humanitarian policies enacted by Ashoka after the Kalinga War fundamentally reshaped the administrative ethos of the Mauryan Empire.
Historians often study the Ashoka Pillars, with their finely carved capitals like the lions at Sarnath, as masterpieces of early Indian art and political communication.
Many modern proponents of nonviolence and ethical governance draw inspiration from Ashoka's edicts, which advocated for respect toward all living beings.
The decision to send his son, Mahinda, and daughter, Sanghamitta, to Sri Lanka to propagate Buddhist teachings was a pivotal moment in the religion's history.
When visiting archaeological sites in India, one can still see the Brahmi script of Ashoka's rock edicts carved into large stone surfaces.
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