Aśoka (Asoka) is one of the Sahasranāma (Sahasranama; Thousand Names) of God Viṣṇu (Vishnu). Śankarācārya, the commentator, while explaining the meaning of ‘Aśoka’, says,
śokādiṣaḍūrmivarjita aśokaḥ.
Scholars have conceptualised the six common characteristics or distortions in body, mind or being, as six waves. These are śoka (soka; grief), moha (illusion), jarā (ageing), mṛtyu (mrityu; death), kṣudhā (kshudha, hunger)and pipāsā (pipasa; thirst)–
śokamohau jarāmṛtyu kṣutpipāse ṣaḍurmayaḥ.
God Viṣṇu is above and beyond these six stages, so He is known as Aśoka.