Bindusara and Early Life of Ashoka

At a Glance

• Bindusara Reigned about 297 to 273 BC
• Greek name Amitrochates
• Envoy Deimachos of Antiochus I
• Ashoka’s posts Viceroy of Taxila and Ujjain
• Succession Struggle, coronation about 268 BC
• Exam link UPSC Prelims, Ancient History: Mauryan Empire

Where Does It Fit?

This is the fifth topic of the category on the Mauryan Empire. The previous topic covered the economy, and this one covers Bindusara and Ashoka’s youth. The next topic covers the Rock Edict Claimed toll 150,000 deported; 100,000 killed Policy shift…">Kalinga war. Previous topic: Mauryan Economy and State Control.

What Do We Know of Bindusara?

In short: Bindusara held the empire together and kept up diplomacy with the Greek world.

Chandragupta Maurya was succeeded by Bindusara, whose reign is important for its continuing links with the Greek princes. Another account says he succeeded in 297 BCE in a peaceful and natural transition, ruled for 25 years and must have died in 272 BCE, and that he continued to be advised by Chanakya and other capable ministers. Greek writers called him Amitrochates or Allitrochades, probably from the Sanskrit amitraghata, meaning slayer of enemies. Greek sources mention the diplomacy with the Seleucid king Antiochus I, whose ambassador Deimachos was at his court. Athenaeus, citing Hegesander, records that Bindusara asked Antiochus for sweet wine, dried figs and a sophist, and Antiochus sent the wine and figs but refused the sophist. Historians disagree on how far the empire grew under him, and some hold that he mainly kept the inherited territory. In the reign of Bindusara, the citizens of Taxila complained against misrule by wicked ministers (dushtamatyas), and the grievance was redressed by sending Ashoka, as discussed in Pushyamitra Shunga Chief causes Reaction, finance, oppression, frontier…">Causes of the Decline of the Mauryan Empire.

What Was Ashoka’s Early Career?

His son Ashoka is the greatest of the Mauryan rulers. Ashoka was born around 304 BCE, probably at Pataliputra, though the date is uncertain. His mother is named variously as Subhadrangi or Dharma in different traditions, and her identity is not reliably known. Ashoka was not Bindusara’s chosen successor. According to another account, Ashoka had been the viceroy of Taxila when he put down a revolt against local officials by the people of Taxila, and was later viceroy of Ujjain, the capital of Avanti and a major commercial city. The Buddhist text Ashokavadana says Bindusara sent him to suppress a rebellion at Taxila, while the Sri Lankan tradition says he governed Ujjain. The Sri Lankan chronicles Mahavamsa and Dipavamsa say that on the way to Ujjain he met Devi, a merchant’s daughter at Vidisha, who bore him Mahinda and Sanghamitta. These are traditions and not proven history, and only Karuvaki, a queen, is named in Ashoka’s own inscriptions.

How Did Ashoka Become Emperor?

The throne reached Ashoka only four years after his father’s death, in about 268 BCE, according to another account, which indicates a struggle between Bindusara’s sons for succession. The Mahavamsa describes a four-year interregnum before the consecration, which may reflect a war of succession. According to Buddhist tradition, Ashoka was so cruel in his early life that he killed his ninety-nine brothers to win the throne, but the statement is based on a legend and may be mythical. Ashoka’s biography, written by Buddhist authors, is so full of fiction that it cannot be taken seriously. Susima, the eldest son, is named in legend as the intended heir. The reliable history of Ashoka begins with his own inscriptions, which started to speak to the people directly, as discussed in Ashokan Inscriptions. The consequences of his early campaign, the Kalinga war in the eighth year of his reign, follow in Kalinga War and its Impact.

As an analytical point, the early life of Ashoka shows how historians treat religious biographies: the stories of the 99 brothers and of fierce youth emphasise his later conversion, while epigraphy and the gap before coronation give firmer ground. Dating differs by a few years across accounts, so answers should say “about” and note the variation. The founding of the dynasty is in Chandragupta Maurya and the Founding of the Mauryan Empire.

Why Is This Topic Important?

• Succession question Often asked
• Source criticism Legends versus edicts
• Greek diplomacy Contacts with Seleucids

What Came Next?

The next topic describes the Kalinga war and its impact. Next topic: Kalinga War and its Impact.

Key People and Terms

• Amitrochates Greek name of Bindusara
• Amitraghata Slayer of enemies
• Deimachos Greek ambassador
• Viceroy Governor of a province
• Ashokavadana Buddhist text on Ashoka
• Interregnum Gap between reigns

Exam Corner

Mains Angle

Questions ask about continuity and succession. These points add depth.

• Continuity Bindusara
• Succession Four-year gap
• Sources Legends