Southern India remained independent, but Ashoka had his hands full with a large empire that now extended as far north as Kashmir and east to Bengal.
Ashoka's forces retreated under attacks from all sides as his empire shrunk.
mnli hypothesis: Ashoka's forces retreated under attacks from all sides as his empire shrunk. premise: Southern India remained independent, but Ashoka had his hands full with a large empire that now extended as far north as Kashmir and east to Bengal.