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( Ashokavadana)
The Ashokavadana (Sanskrit ???????, "Narrative of Ashoka") is a 2nd century CE document related to the legend of the Maurya Emperor Ashoka the Great. The legend was translated into Chinese by Fa Hien in 300 CE. The Ashokavadana is essentially similar to the accounts of Ashoka contained in the Divyavadana ("Divine Narrative"), suggesting a similar origin. The Ashokavadana is an account of the birth and reign of King Ashoka. According to the legend, the birth of Ashoka was predicted by the Buddha, in the story, "The Gift of Dust" Following this prophecy, the Ashokavadana further states that Ashoka was finally born as the son of the Maurya Emperor Bindusara by a relatively lower ranked queen, the daughter of a poor Brahmin who introduced her into the harem of the Emperor as it was predicted that her son would be a great ruler. Although she was of priestly lineage, the fact that she was not royal by birth made her a very low-status consort in the harem.[2]
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