Bindusara
Second Mauryan emperor who consolidated his father's empire.
Bindusara (r. c. 298 – c. 272 BCE) was the second Mauryan emperor of Magadha in ancient India. Ancient Greco-Roman writers referred to him as Amitrochates, a name likely derived from his Sanskrit title Amitraghāta, meaning "slayer of enemies." He was the son of Chandragupta, the founder of the Mauryan dynasty, and the father of its most famous ruler, Ashoka. Compared to these two emperors, far less is known about Bindusara’s life; most surviving information comes from legendary accounts composed centuries after his death. He is credited with consolidating the empire his father had built. The 16th-century Tibetan Buddhist author Taranatha attributed extensive territorial conquests in southern India to Bindusara’s administration, though some historians question the reliability of this claim.
Detailed records of Bindusara’s life are scarce in both ancient and medieval sources. What is known largely comes from Jain legends about Chandragupta and Buddhist legends about Ashoka, such as Hemachandra’s *Parishishta-Parvan* (written over a thousand years after Bindusara’s death) and various Buddhist texts like the *Divyavadana*, *Dipavamsa*, *Mahavamsa*, and the works of Taranatha. These accounts are considered historically unreliable due to their late composition and their close association with Ashoka and Buddhism. Hindu Puranas mention Bindusara in their Mauryan genealogies, and Greek sources record him under the name Amitrochates or similar variations.
Bindusara’s parentage is attested by the Puranas and the *Mahavamsa* as the son of Chandragupta. The *Dipavamsa* also names Bindusara as the son of Chandragupta, and the prose *Ashokavadana* consistently names him as the son of Chandragupta, not Nanda. Chandragupta’s marriage alliance with the Seleucids has led to speculation that Bindusara’s mother might have been Greek or Macedonian, but no evidence supports this. The 12th-century Jain writer Hemachandra names Bindusara’s mother as Durdhara.
The name “Bindusara” appears in Buddhist texts like the *Dipavamsa* and *Mahavamsa* (as “Bindusaro”), Jain texts, and Hindu texts such as the *Vishnu Purana* (as “Vindusara”). Other Puranas give variant names like Varisara, Varikara, Bhadrasara, or Nandasara, likely due to scribal errors. The *Mahabhashya* calls Chandragupta’s successor Amitra-ghāta, and Greek writers Strabo and Athenaeus refer
- died
- c. 272 BCE
Lore & Background
Bindusara was born to Chandragupta, the founder of the Mauryan Empire, as attested by several sources including the various Puranas and the Mahavamsa. The Dipavamsa also names Bindusara as the son of Chandragupta, and the Ashokavadana consistently names him as the son of Chandragupta, not Nanda. Chandragupta had a marriage alliance with the Seleucids, leading to speculation that Bindusara's mother might have been Greek or Macedonian, but there is no evidence of this. According to the 12th century Jain writer Hemachandra's Parishishta-Parvan, the name of Bindusara's mother was Durdhara.
Both Buddhist and Jain texts mention a legend about how Bindusara got his name. The accounts state that Chandragupta's minister Chanakya used to mix small doses of poison in the emperor's food to build his immu
Reader's Guide
Bindusara's significance lies in his role as the second Mauryan emperor, consolidating the vast empire created by his father Chandragupta. His reign, though poorly documented, bridged the foundational period of the Mauryan dynasty and the transformative rule of his son Ashoka. The 16th century Tibetan Buddhist author Taranatha credits his administration with extensive territorial conquests in southern India, but some historians doubt the historical authenticity of this claim. Historian Upinder Singh estimates that Bindusara ascended the throne around 297 BCE. Sailendra Nath Sen notes that the Mauryan empire already extended from the western sea to the eastern sea during Chandragupta's reign, and concludes that Bindusara did not extend the empire but managed to retain the territories he inherited. K. Krishna Reddy, however, argues that the Mauryan empire extended up to Mysore during Bindusara's reign, with southernmost kingdoms probably acknowledging its suzerainty. Alain Daniélou believes Bindusara brought the southern territories of the Cheras, the Cholas and the Satyaputras under nominal Mauryan control, though he could not overcome their armies. Bindusara's main achievement, according to Daniélou, was organization and consolidation of the empire he inherited. The Mahavamsa suggests Bindusara appointed his son Ashoka as the viceroy of Ujjayini, and Ashokavadana states that Bindusara sent Ashoka to lay siege to Takshashila.
Did You Know?
- Bindusara was known to ancient Greco-Roman writers as Amitrochates, likely derived from his Sanskrit title Amitraghāta ("slayer of enemies").
- The title Devanampriya is primarily associated with Ashoka, not reliably attested for Bindusara in early sources.
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