What was Ashoka’s dhamma?

Ashoka’s dhamma did not involve worship of a
god, or performance of a sacrifice. He felt that
just as a father tries to teach his children, he had
a duty to instruct his subjects. He was also
inspired by the teachings of the Buddha (Chapter
7).
There were a number of problems that troubled
him. People in the empire followed different
religions, and this sometimes led to conflict.
Animals were sacrificed. Slaves and servants were
ill treated. Besides, there were quarrels in families
and amongst neighbours. Ashoka felt it was his
duty to solve these problems. So, he appointed
officials, known as the dhamma mahamatta who
went from place to place teaching people about
dhamma. Besides, Ashoka
got his messages inscribed
on rocks and pillars,
instructing his officials to
read his message to those
who could not read it
themselves.
Ashoka also sent
messengers to spread ideas
about dhamma to other
lands, such as Syria, Egypt,
Greece and Sri Lanka. He
built roads, dug wells, and
built rest houses. Besides,
he arranged for medical
treatment for both human
beings and animals.

Ashoka’s messages to his subjects:

“People perform a variety of rituals when they fall
ill, when their children get married, when children
are born, or when they go on a journey.
These rituals are not useful.
If instead, people observe other practices, this
would be more fruitful. What are these other
practices?
These are: being gentle with slaves and servants.
Respecting one’s elders.
Treating all creatures with compassion.
Giving gifts to brahmins and monks.”
“It is both wrong to praise one’s own religion or
criticise another’s.
Each one should respect the other’s religion.
If one praises one’s own religion while criticising
another’s, one is actually doing greater harm to one’s
own religion.
Therefore, one should try to understand the main
ideas of another’s religion, and respect it.”