Why did Ashoka avoid using Sanskrit for his public edicts?

He wanted his messages of Dhamma to be accessible to the general population, and Prakrit was the language spoken by the common masses.

Ancient Indian Paleography and Language

UPSC Archival Analysis

Q: Language used in the inscriptions of Ashoka is:

The language primarily used in the inscriptions of Emperor Ashoka is Prakrit. This was the vernacular language of the time, chosen for its accessibility to the public.

Exam Year

2000

Evidence Source

Link

ID: ART_MIS_2000_91 Ref: Themes in Indian History - Part I