After the bloody Kalinga War in 261 BCE, Emperor Ashoka of the Mauryan Empire converted to Buddhism and began promoting non-violence, religious tolerance, and welfare programs across his vast empire. He erected pillars and rock edicts throughout India inscribed with Buddhist teachings, creating one of the earliest examples of state-sponsored moral philosophy and public inscription.

Ashoka's edicts represent some of the earliest surviving Indian prose and influenced the development of Prakrit literature. Buddhist poetry flourished under his patronage, with works like the Theragatha and Therigatha (verses of elder monks and nuns) emerging from this period. His promotion of Buddhism facilitated the spread of Indian literary traditions across Asia, influencing poetic forms in Sri Lanka, Southeast Asia, and eventually East Asia.