The confusing accounts about Ashoka's successors
One of the most debated issues in ancient Indian history is the question of who Ashoka's immediate successors were.
The list of Ashoka's successors as per various Puranas -
A. Vishnu Purana - Suyushas, Dasaratha, Samgata, Salisuka, Somasarman, Satadhanvan, Brihadratha.
B. Vayu Purana - Kunala, Bandhupalita, Indrapalita, Devavarma, Satadhara, Brhadasva.
C. Matsya Purana - Dasaratha, Samprati, Satadhanvan, Brihadratha.
D. Bhagavatam - Suyushas, Samgata, Salisuka, Somasarman, Satadhanvan, Brihadratha.
E. Brahmanda Purana - Kusala/Kunala, Bandhupalita, Indrapalita, Devavarma, Satadhanu, Brihadratha.
All Puranas agree that Satadhanvan (Satadhara or Satadhanu) and Brihadratha (Brhadasva) were the final two Mauryan emperors. Suyushas and Kunala also seems to be the same Person.
Vishnu Purana and Matsya Purana mentions a Dasharatha Maurya as a successor to Ashoka. This Dasharatha Maurya is 100% a real king as we have an inscription of him.
"The cave of Gopika, a refuge that will last as long as the sun and the moon, was dug by Devanampiya (beloved of the gods) Dasaratha at from his elevation to the throne, to make it a hermitage for the most pious Ajivikas".
\- Gopika cave Inscription of Dasharatha Maurya.
Buddhist and Jain texts totally ignore Dasaratha and Instead say that Samprati was the immediate successor of Ashoka. At that time, Kunala's son, Sampadin, had become the heir apparent.
"The ministers therefore gave four kotis of gold pieces for the Teaching in order to buy back the Earth, and they consecrated Sampadin as king."
\- Ashoka's last gift, Ashokavadana.
"Samprati, accordingly, was named Kunala’s son, and, though a baby in arms, he was anointed Asoka’s successor, after whose demise he ascended the throne and became a powerful monarch. Samprati was a staunch Jaina."
\- Parisitaparvan.
Another theory is that Ashoka in his deathbed divided the empire between his two grandsons - Dasharatha and Samprati.
The idea we get from these accounts is that there seems to be some general confusion and instability following Ashoka's death.