The 3rd century BC was the period of the Mauryan empire, the first great empire of India.

公元前三世纪是孔雀王朝，印度第一个大帝国形成的时期。

youdao

Sentiments in favour of nonviolence ( ahimsa ) and vegetarianism, much encouraged by the heterodox sects, spread during the mauryan period and were greatly encouraged by asoka.

支持非暴力和素食主义的观点，大多是受到非正统教派的鼓励，在孔雀王朝时期广泛传播，大大地受到阿育王的鼓励。

youdao

Ashoka, who ruled the Mauryan empire, India's first, at its apogee in the third century before Christ, was a convert to Buddhism.

ECONOMIST: Millennium issue: Muslims and Hindus