Dhamma is a set of edicts that formed a policy of the Mauryan emperor Ashoka Maurya (Devanāgarī: अशोक, IAST: ), who succeeded to the Mauryan throne in modern-day India around 269 B.C. Many historians consider him as one of the greatest kings of the ancient India for his policies of public welfare. His policy of Dhamma has been debated by intellectuals.