Editing Ashoka (section)

== Names and titles ==
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| image1            = Devanampiyasa Asoka.jpg
| caption1          = "[[Devanampiya|Devānampiyasa]] Asoka", in the [[Maski]] [[Edict of Ashoka]].
| image2            = Ashoka in Brahmi script.jpg
| caption2          = The name "Asoka" (𑀅𑀲𑁄𑀓 ''A-so-ka'') in the [[Maski]] [[Minor Rock Edict]].
| image3            = Devanampiyena Piyadasi in the Lumbini Edict of Ashoka.jpg
| caption3          = Ashoka's title "[[Devanampriya|Devanaṃpiyena]] [[Priyadasi|Piyadasi]]" (𑀤𑁂𑀯𑀸𑀦𑀁𑀧𑀺𑀬𑁂𑀦 𑀧𑀺𑀬𑀤𑀲𑀺) in the [[Lumbini]] [[Minor Pillar Edict]].
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The name "A-shoka" literally means "without sorrow". According to an ''[[Ashokavadana]]'' legend, his mother gave him this name because his birth removed her sorrows.{{sfn|Strong|1989|p=205}}

The name [[Priyadasi]] is associated with Ashoka in the 3rd–4th century CE ''[[Dipavamsa]]''.{{sfn|Allen|2012|p=79}}<ref>{{cite book |title=The Dîpavaṃsa: An Ancient Buddhist Historical Record |date=1879 |publisher=Williams and Norgate |pages=[https://archive.org/details/dpavasaanancien00oldegoog/page/n156 147]–148 |url=https://archive.org/details/dpavasaanancien00oldegoog |language=en}}</ref> The term literally means "he who regards amiably", or "of gracious mien" ([[Sanskrit]]: Priya-darshi). It may have been a [[regnal name]] adopted by Ashoka.{{sfn|Thapar|1961|pp=226–227}}<ref name="Asokan studies">{{cite book |last1=Sircar |first1=D. C. |title=Asokan studies |date=1979 |page=113 |url=https://archive.org/stream/in.gov.ignca.67068/67068#page/n125/mode/2up}}</ref> A version of this name is used for Ashoka in Greek-language inscriptions: βασιλεὺς Πιοδασσης ("[[Basileus]] Piodassēs").<ref name="Asokan studies"/>

Ashoka's inscriptions mention his title ''[[Devanampriya|Devanampiya]]'' (Sanskrit: ''Devanampriya'', "Beloved of the Gods"). The identification of Devanampiya and Ashoka as the same person is established by the [[Maski#Minor Rock Edict of Ashoka|Maski]] and Gujarra inscriptions, which use both these terms for the king.{{sfn|Strong|1989|p=11}}{{sfn|Lahiri|2015|p=129}} The title was adopted by other kings, including the contemporary king [[Devanampiya Tissa of Anuradhapura]] and Ashoka's descendant [[Dasharatha Maurya]].{{sfn|Thapar|1961|p=226}}