महावंशआ अशकनि अनागारिनिबो सुंदयै फोरमायथिदों, जेराव बुंनाय दं दि अशकखौ सिगाङाव बिनि गाज्रि मावनायनि थाखाय चंदाशोका बुंनाय जायो, नाथाय बौद्ध धोरोमाव बिथांङा हाबनायनि उनाव मावनाय गोथार हाबाफोरनि थाखाय बिथांखौ धर्माशका बुंनाय जायो।
The Mahavamsa also briefly alludes to Ashoka's cruelty, stating that Ashoka was earlier called Chandashoka because of his evil deeds but came to be called Dharmashoka because of his pious acts after his conversion to Buddhism.