Mauryans were real deal, i am personally a fanboy of Chandragupta the great and Chanakya who were badass in their timeline, not only they took ragtag nomads and tribals of North and West India and built an Army of their own but also defeated India's largest Empire at that time but also forged a new dynasty that united all of Bharatvarsh under their rule.
later when one of the best general of Alexander who ruled Persia, Turkey, Levent, Central Asia and Afghanistan attacked their Empire to fulfill the goal of India under greek rule, not only they kicked Selucid back to Iran but also took Afghanistan and astern Iran as a price and his own daughter Helena as a trophy wife to add insult to injury.
this same helena gave birth to the 2nd Mauryan Emperor "Bindusara" who conquered Rajasthan, Gujarat and Most of Deccan for Mauryan Empire.
they were mightiest Emperors of India,from original Kshatriya Bloodline.
Mauryan empire under Chandragupta,
Empire under his son Bindusara
the emblem of Mauryan Empire (lion) and Dynasty(Moreya/peacock)
@padamchen @Nilgiri @ranjeet