Which Buddhist text contains an account of the Mauryan Emperor Ashoka?

The Mahavamsa, known as the 'Great Chronicle' of Sri Lanka, provides a detailed historical account of the Mauryan Emperor Ashoka and his role in spreading Buddhism [2]. While the Tripitaka (Vinaya, Sutta, and Abhidhamma Pitakas) focuses on monastic rules, discourses, and philosophical matters respectively, it does not contain the historical biography of Ashoka [2]. The Mahavamsa, along with the Dipavamsa, was written as Buddhism traveled to Sri Lanka and contains regional histories and biographies [1]. It specifically mentions Ashoka's missions, such as the sending of missionaries like Dharmaraksita to proselytize the faith [3]. These chronicles are essential for reconstructing the history of the Mauryan period alongside Ashokan edicts and the Arthasastra [3].

Sources

1. [1] THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART I, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 4: Thinkers, Beliefs and Buildings > How Buddhist texts were prepared and preserved > p. 86
2. [2] History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 5: Evolution of Society in South India > Literary > p. 64
3. [3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhist_councils