This thread is a much requested and long pending. Its about the story of King Ashoka and how it has been twisted over years. Let's begin.
Let's establish some facts first
1. Much of the details we know about Ashoka is from his inscriptions
2. Other details are found in Buddhist literature
3. Puranas mention Ashoka but no further details are found
4. Much of the literature about Ashoka is written centuries later
1. Much of the details we know about Ashoka is from his inscriptions
2. Other details are found in Buddhist literature
3. Puranas mention Ashoka but no further details are found
4. Much of the literature about Ashoka is written centuries later
Now, lets start with Rock inscriptions first. These inscriptions are filled on his preaching about Dhamma and has been compared to propaganda by a politician by some scholars. 
How, you may ask? Here, let's take example of his edict after Kalinga war where he allegedly faced remorse and turned into a buddhist suddenly. But his other inscriptions say otherwise.
Excerpt from King Aśoka and Buddhism by Anuradha Seneviratna.
Moreover, what most people don't know that is that two of the pillars were "discovered" by a forger archaeologist who was discredited in 1898 and the inscriptions don't match completely.
From Greek Buddha By Christopher I. Beckwith
From Greek Buddha By Christopher I. Beckwith
What does this mean? It means the description Devānāṃpriya Aśoka is found only on late buddhist inscriptions and not on the earlier inscriptions.
It means that there are two distinctive inscriptions, one by Devānāṃpriya Priyadarśi (Maurya inscriptions) and other by Devānāṃpriya Aśoka (which is in overtly Buddhist tone)
This means that there were two Ashokas! The Mauryan Devānāṃpriya Priyadarśi and buddhist Devānāṃpriya Aśoka!
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