Causes for the decline of the Mauryas

The traditional approach attributes the decline to Asoka’s policies and his weak successors
Another approach holds the inadequate political and economic institutions to sustain such a vast empire
It was said that Asoka’s pro-Buddhist policies antagonized the Brahmins who brought about a revolution led by Pusyamitra Sunga. But Asoka never acted against Brahmins
Another charge against him was his policy of non-violence reduced the fighting spirit of his army
Blaming Asoka for this decline may not be correct because he was more a pragmatist than an idealist
Multiple causes- weak successors, partition of empire, administrative abuses after Asoka’s reign