<P> Ashoka and Kalinga Ashoka ( son of Bindusara ) wanted to annex Kalinga with Magadha for commercial reasons , although some folktales indicates that he invaded for personal reason . Because Kalinga has many sea ports which Magadha lacks and Kalinga is between north and south part of India and main trade routes goes through it , Ashoka attacked Kalinga in 261 B.C. and a battle occurred between two armies near the river Daya . This site is now identified near Bhubaneswar , the capital city of Orissa . Although Ashoka was winner at the end of the day , the bloodshed and human suffering changed his mind forever . </P>
the king of kalinga in the mauryan period was
Ashoka