The Mauryan Empire declined due to several factors: 1. Weak rulers led to decentralization of the highly centralized administration, as regional rulers declared independence. 2. A weakening of the central administration coupled with the vast size of the empire made it difficult to maintain control over distant regions. 3. The monarchical system relied on personal loyalty to the king rather than loyalty to the state, undermining stability when weak rulers came to power. 4. Ashoka's policies of non-violence and pacifism, as well as efforts promoting Buddhism, weakened the military and overburdened finances, making the empire vulnerable to external attack.

1. Decline of Mauryan Empire
Ashoka and the Decline of the Mauryan Empire- Prof. Romila Thaper
1. Ineligible Rulers- DECETRALIZATION- Romila Thaper
a. Kashmir was independently announced as free region by Jalauk- According to Kalhan
b. Gandhar was independently announced as free region by Veersena (grandson of Kunal)-
According to Taranath
c. Vidarbha was also declared as free state- According to Malvikagnimitram
2. Highly Centralized Admnistration-
a. Historian Romila Thapar is of the view that the highly centralised administration under the
Mauryas became a problem with the later Mauryan kings who were not as efficient
administrators as their predecessors.
b. Powerful kingslike ChandraguptaMauryaand Ashokacouldcontrol the administrationwell. But
weak rulers led to a weakening of the administration and ultimately led to the empire’s
disintegration.
c. Also, the sheer vastness of the Mauryan Empire meant that there had to be a very effective
ruler at the centre who could keep coherent all the regions.
d. A weakening of the central administration coupled with a large distance to communicate also
led to the rise of independent kingdoms.
3. Monarchical System – Rahdakumud Mukherjee (Why the son of a king can be King ?)
a. The officials owed their loyalty to the king and not to the State.
4. Revolt of regional rulers-
a. It was started even during the Ashoka- Taxshila, Kalinga, Ujjain
b. It is mentioned in the edict of Ashoka
c. Loss of Loyalty- According to Divyavadan
5. Internal Revolt
a. During the rule of Brihadratha, there was an internal revolt led by his army chief Pushyamitra
Shunga in about 185 or 186 BC.
b. Bana describes in Harshacharita how Shunga killed Brihadratha during an army parade.
6. Fury of Publics- Tax
a. Economical Policy- D.D. Kausambi On the basis of PMC quality, Debasement of Slver coins..
b. They had vast region to rule over it, for that they need money, they stopped war but they had
big military, they had big administration, they need salary.
c. Ashoka created post and many architecture (Pillars, Stupa) and art… for that need money.
d. It is mentioned in the Patanjali works that the way and medium of tax collection were not
always good.
e. This is the advantage for Pushyamitra Shunga.
7. Control over the military became slowly week-
a. The military were useless because no war,
b. Due to lack of practice one could not ready for immediate revenge.
8. Liberal Policy of the Ashoka-
a. Some scholarssuggestthatAshoka’spoliciesof non-violence andpacifismledto the weakening
of the empire.
b. Since he stoppedwagingwars,foreign powerswere once againtemptedto attack the kingdom.
c. Also, he gave a lot of importance and efforts to the propagation of Buddhism.
d. Military,Dhammadesh,Treasury,Publicity of Buddhism in the foreign country- this resulted as
economical burden to the treasury.
H.C. Raychaudhuri -“Fromthe time of Bimbisara to Kalinga war the history of India was the story of the
expansionof Magadha from a tiny state in South Bihar to a gigantic empire extending from the foot of
the Hindukushtothe bordersof the Tamil country.After the Kalinga war ensued a period of stagnation

2. at the endof whichthe processisreversed.The empire graduallydwindleddowninextent till it sank to
the position from which Bimbisara and his successors had raised it.”
9. Continues External attacked-
a. Afterthe rule of Shalishuk(Grandsonof Dasharath) Mauryan declined from the land of Madhya
Pradesh- According to Gargi Samhita
b. The attack of Greek ruler Antiochus in 206 BCE
10. Division of Empire- Prof. Romila Thaper
a. Eastern- Dashratha
b. Western- Kunal
11. Religious Reason
a. Brahmin resentment- Non-violence (Brahmins started revolt)- Hemchandra Rai Chaudhary,
b. Dhamma Policy- Romila Thaper,
c. Brahmin Thoughts- Harprasad Shastri
MISINTERPRETATION
1. Economical Policy- D.D.Kosambi=
a. Archaeological evidence at Hastinapura and Sisupalqarh.
b. In the post - Asokan period surplus wealth was used by the rising commercial classes to
decorate religious buildings.
c. The sculpture at Barhut and Sanchi and the Deccan caves was the contribution of this new
bourgeoisie.
2. Against the view Brahmins Revolt
Haraprasad contends that the revolt by Pushyamitra was the result of brahminical reaction against the pro-
Buddhist policies of Ashoka and pro-Jaina policies of his successors. The view that brahminical reaction was
responsible for the decline because of the following reasons.
a. Prohibitionofthe slaughter ofanimals displeasedthe Brahmins as animal sacrificeswere esteemedby
them.
Asoka'scompassiontowardsanimalswasnotan overnightdecision.Repulsionof animal sacrifices grew
over a long period of time. It is doubtful whether these prohibitions were strictly enforced.
b. The book Divyavadana refers to the persecution of Buddhists by Pushyamitra Sunga.
During the time of Pushyamitra Sunga that the Sanchi and Barhut stupas were completed.
c. The capture of power by Pushyamitra Sunga shows the triumph of Brahmins.
The victoryof PushyamitraSungaclearlyshowsthatthe lastof the Mauryas was an incompetent ruler since
he was overthrown in the very presence of his army, and this had nothing to do with brahminical reaction against
Asoka'spatronage of Budhism.Moreover,the veryfactthat a Brahmin was the commander in chief of the Mauryan
ruler proves that the Mauryas and the Brahmins were on good terms. Ashoka was a Buddhist in the same way as
Harsha was a Budhist, or Kumarapala was a Jain. But in the view of the people of the day he was a Hindu monarch
following one of the recognized sects. His own inscriptions bear ample withness to the fact. While his doctrines
followthemiddle path,hisgiftsare tothe brahmibns,sramansa(Buddhistpriests) andothersequally.His own name
of adoptionisDevanamPriya,the belovedof the gods.Whichgods?Surelythe godsof the Aryanreligion.Buddhism
had no gods of its own. The idea that Ashoka was a kind of Buddhist Constantine decl earing himself against
paganismisa complete misreadingof Indiaconditions.Asokawasa kindor BuddhistConstantine declearinghimself
against paganism is a complete misreading of India conditions. Asoka was essentially a Hindu, as indeed was the
founder of the sect to which he belonged.