Ashokavadana

In what ways and for what reasons might this story from the Ashokavandana have appeals to various groups of early Buddhists?
This story from the Ashokavadana could have appealed to various groups of early Buddhists, because it  reflects one of the main characteristics of Buddhism, which is equality.  In the story, king Ashoka bows down at the feet of monks whenever he saw one, regardless of their caste.  His equal respect for monks of all four castes demonstrates his belief that it is not the caste, but it is the inherent quality of the people which makes them worthy of respect and honor.  This would attract many people of the lower castes to convert to Buddhism, since the religion does not discriminate based on social inequality.  The story also shows king Ashoka's support of the religion, which would encourage people to follow it, since they are in no danger of persecution for their beliefs.