The Mauryan art is believed to be inspired from Achaemenid or Persian influence. We can find a lot of similarities in terms of form and style in the inscriptions of Ashoka and the Persian king Darius.
The Pala ruler ‘Devapala’ was succeeded by Vigrahapala. Vigrahapala ruled for about 3 or 4 years after that, he abdicated his throne and began to live the life of an ascetic.