Step-by-step explanation:
The word that best describes Emperor Ashoka during the early years of his reign is "ambitious." Ashoka, initially known as Chandashoka, ascended to the Mauryan throne with a strong desire for expansion and conquest. He launched military campaigns to expand the empire, aiming to bring more territories under his control. Ashoka's ambition and thirst for power were evident in his early years as he sought to establish a vast and dominant empire.