Mod 1: The Origins of the Nandas — Humble Birth, Many Traditions and the “Nine Nandas” (c. 344–322 BCE)
Concept
8.1 Who were the Nandas?
🏫 School level · NCERT Class 6–12 History (the base for UPSC, BPSC, BSSC and other PSC exams)
First empire-builders of north India
The Nanda dynasty (c. 344–322/321 BCE) built the first great empire of north India, with its capital at Pataliputra. It was short-lived — about 22 years — but it gathered huge wealth and a vast army, and its fall led directly to the Maurya empire. Its founder was Mahapadma Nanda; its last king was Dhana Nanda, the contemporary of Alexander.
The Puranas say Mahapadma and his eight sons ruled — nine Nandas in all — for about 100 years (an exaggeration). Buddhist texts name nine brothers who ruled one after another: Ugrasena (= Mahapadma), Panduka, Pandugati, Bhutapala, Rashtrapala, Govishanaka, Dashasiddhaka, Kaivarta and Dhana. Historians accept a short reign of about two decades.
- Nandas c. 344–322/321 BCE; capital Pataliputra; founder Mahapadma, last Dhana Nanda.
- Nine Nandas: father + 8 sons (Puranas) or 9 brothers (Buddhist; Ugrasena = Mahapadma).
- Question: Who founded the Nanda dynasty? Answer: Mahapadma Nanda.
- Question: Who was the last Nanda? Answer: Dhana Nanda.
MCQs
Answer this question, then use Next.
[School] The founder of the Nanda dynasty was:
[BPSC level] The Nanda dynasty ruled Magadha approximately during:
[UPSC level] In Buddhist texts the first Nanda is called:
[BPSC level] According to the Puranas, the “nine Nandas” were:
[School] The capital of the Nanda empire was:
[UPSC level] The Mahavamsa-tika describes the first Nanda as:
[BSSC pattern] Which dynasty came between the Shishunagas and the Mauryas?
One-liners
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Who founded the Nanda dynasty?
Mahapadma Nanda.Who was the last Nanda?
Dhana Nanda.Concept
8.2 Sources and the question of birth
🏫 School level · NCERT Class 6–12 History (the base for UPSC, BPSC, BSSC and other PSC exams)
Why the texts call the Nandas “Shudra”
Why do all the sources stress the Nandas’ low birth? Brahmanical writers disliked a non-Kshatriya king; the Puranas say “thereafter kings will be of Shudra origin” and call Mahapadma the destroyer of all Kshatriyas. Jain and Buddhist writers also tell unflattering stories. Yet the same sources admit the Nandas’ power and wealth. Modern historians see the Nandas as an example of new social groups rising through wealth and the army.
| Source | Contribution |
|---|---|
| Puranas (Vayu, Matsya, Vishnu) | Mahapadma’s titles, conquests, “Shudra” origin, nine Nandas |
| Mahavamsa-tika, Mahabodhivamsa | Nine brothers; Dhana Nanda’s greed; Chanakya’s story |
| Jain: Parishishtaparvan, Avashyaka | Barber origin; Jain ministers Kalpaka and Shakatala |
| Greek: Curtius, Diodorus, Plutarch | Agrammes/Xandrames; army figures; unpopularity |
| Hathigumpha inscription | Nandaraja’s canal and the Kalinga Jina image |
| Sanskrit drama and stories | Mudrarakshasa (Vishakhadatta), Kathasaritsagara (Somadeva) |
| Tamil Sangam poetry | Mamulanar: Nanda treasure hidden in the Ganga at Pataliputra |
- Origin: Puranic (Shudra mother), Jain (barber), Greek (barber-lover), Buddhist (unknown family, bandit).
- Sources include Mudrarakshasa, Kathasaritsagara, Hathigumpha, Mamulanar.
- Question: Who wrote Mudrarakshasa? Answer: Vishakhadatta.
MCQs
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[BPSC level] The Puranas describe Mahapadma Nanda’s mother as a:
[UPSC level] Which Sanskrit drama deals with Chanakya’s struggle against the Nanda minister Rakshasa?
[BPSC level] The Tamil Sangam poet who speaks of Nanda wealth hidden in the Ganga at Pataliputra is:
[UPSC level] Which collection of stories by Somadeva preserves tales of the Nandas and Chanakya?
[BSSC pattern] Kalpaka and Shakatala, according to Jain texts, were Nanda:
[UPSC level] Modern historians see the rise of the Nandas mainly as:
[BPSC level] Which inscription mentions “Nandaraja”?
One-liners
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Who wrote Mudrarakshasa?
Vishakhadatta.Concept
🎯 UPSC · BPSC · BSSC · State PSC level: PYQs, traps and mains
| Exam | What it asks from this module |
|---|---|
| UPSC | Dynasty at the time of Alexander (UPSC 2000); social origin of the Nandas |
| BPSC | Founder Mahapadma; nine Nandas; sources |
| BSSC / SSC | Dynasty after Shishunaga; last Nanda king (DSSSB 2019) |
Which dynasty was ruling over north India at the time of Alexander’s invasion? (a) Nanda (b) Maurya (c) Shunga (d) Kanva
- Alexander invaded in 326 BCE; Dhana Nanda ruled Magadha. Chandragupta Maurya rose only after Alexander left.
- Founder = Mahapadma; last king = Dhana Nanda.
- “Nine Nandas” = father + 8 sons (Puranas) or 9 brothers (Buddhist).
- Ugrasena (Buddhist name) = Mahapadma.
Model question: “The Nandas were the first empire-builders of India.” Examine. Points: extent from the Beas to Kalinga; centralised army and revenue; “Ekarat”; Greek evidence on power; humble origin and unpopularity; short reign; foundation for the Mauryas.
- UPSC 2000: Nandas ruled at Alexander’s invasion.
- Question: Which dynasty ruled at Alexander’s invasion? Answer: The Nanda dynasty.
MCQs
Answer this question, then use Next.
[UPSC 2000] Which dynasty was ruling over north India at the time of Alexander’s invasion?
[DSSSB 2019] Who was the last king of the Nanda dynasty?
[BPSC level] Which pair of tradition and claim about the Nandas is correct?
[UPSC level] Historians accept that the Nanda dynasty ruled for about:
[School] Dhana Nanda was a contemporary of:
[BPSC level] The last of the nine Nanda brothers in Buddhist tradition was:
One-liners
Write your answer, then submit to see the correct answer.
Which dynasty ruled at Alexander’s invasion?
The Nanda dynasty.