The conduct code which Ashoka presented to unite various communities, castes, and cultures in a single entity, was called, ‘Dhamma’. The principles of Dhamma were acceptable to people related to all religious communities. The Main Principles of Dhamma

1. Tolerance – Tolerance among common people, various idologies, religions and faiths. 

2. Non – violence – Propounding the principle of non – violence towards all creatures. 

3. Exhibiting hypocritical rituals / traditions – Religious rituals and offering sacrifices was called meaningless. 

4. Public welfare – Tree – plantation, wells and inns were built. 

5. High, pure morals – Emphasis was laid on high morals, pure conduct, good behaviour, and truthfulness.

Implementation of the policy of Dhamma – Ashoka took practical measures to propagate Dhamma.

For this, Ashoka not only gave up the policy of war but also understood and felt the problems, sorrows and needs of common people. He constrained bureaucrats to render instant justice and perform public works. He worked for public welfare and constructed roads, irrigation facilities, wells, inns etc. The objective of these public welfare works was to make Dhamma acceptable.

Evaluation of the policy of Dhamma – The basic principles of Dhamma were tolerance, non-violence, and moral conduct, which had been the basic elements of Indian culture since the very beginning, and their relevance remains even today. Ashoka’s successors on the throne accepted these principles, nevertheless, this policy could not bear absolute results after Ashoka’s death.