Ashoka's prime claim to greatness lay in

The prime objective of Asoka was to achieve both material and spiritual welfare of men. As for the people’s spiritual welfare he did enormous works for their mental elevation to lead a nobler life according to the laws of Dharma. He made it a principle of administration that a set of special officers "shall make themselves acquainted with what gives happiness or pain and exhort the people of the provinces along with the faithful, so that they may gain happiness in this world and in the next".