What is the main idea of the edict?
read the excerpt from the edicts of ashoka.

they (my officers) work among soldiers, chiefs, householders, the poor, the aged—for their welfare and happiness—so that they may be free from harassment. the officers work for the proper treatment of prisoners, towards their unfettering, and if the officers think, "this one has a family to support," "that one has been bewitched," "this one is old," then they work for the release of such prisoners. they work here, in outlying towns, in the women's quarters belonging to my brothers and sisters, and among my other relatives. they are occupied everywhere.

Read the excerpt from the Edicts of Ashoka.

They (my officers) work among soldiers, chiefs, householders, the poor, the aged—for their welfare and happiness—so that they may be free from harassment. The officers work for the proper treatment of prisoners, towards their unfettering, and if the officers think, "This one has a family to support," "That one has been bewitched," "This one is old," then they work for the release of such prisoners. They work here, in outlying towns, in the women's quarters belonging to my brothers and sisters, and among my other relatives. They are occupied everywhere.

What is the main idea of the edict?

Women, the elderly, and prisoners should be given special treatment.
Ashoka's officers have the power to make decisions on their own.
Ashoka's officers are watching what people are doing all the time.
All citizens should be free from mistreatment and harassment.

The answer is All citizens should be free from mistreatment and harassment.

What book is this referring to?

The answer b is correct this all occurred during the red scare