Mod 5: Bindusara — Amitraghata, the Greek Envoys, the Ajivikas, Southern Conquests and the War of Succession
Concept
9.9 Bindusara and the Greek world
🏫 School level · NCERT Class 6–12 History (the base for UPSC, BPSC, BSSC and other PSC exams)
Amitraghata and his envoys
Bindusara (c. 298/297–273 BCE), son of Chandragupta, ruled for about 25 years. Greek writers call him Amitrochates — from Sanskrit Amitraghata (“slayer of enemies”) or Amitrakhada. The Puranas call him Bhadrasara; Jain texts call him Simhasena.
According to Athenaeus (quoting Hegesander), Bindusara wrote to Antiochus I asking for sweet wine, dried figs and a sophist (philosopher). Antiochus replied that he would send the wine and figs, but “in Greece it is not lawful to sell a sophist”.
- Bindusara (c. 298–273 BCE) = Amitrochates (Amitraghata); Bhadrasara (Puranas), Simhasena (Jain).
- Envoys: Deimachus (Antiochus I), Dionysius (Ptolemy II); request for wine, figs, sophist.
- Question: Who sent Deimachus? Answer: Antiochus I of Syria.
MCQs
Answer this question, then use Next.
Question 3: Which Greek ambassador was sent to the court of Emperor Bindusara by King Antiochus I of Syria?
[School] Bindusara was the son of:
[BPSC level] Greek writers called Bindusara:
[UPSC level] The title Amitraghata means:
[BPSC level] Ptolemy II Philadelphus of Egypt sent which envoy to the Mauryan court?
[UPSC level] Bindusara asked Antiochus I for sweet wine, dried figs and:
[BSSC pattern] In the Puranas, Bindusara is called:
One-liners
Write your answer, then submit to see the correct answer.
Who sent Deimachus?
Antiochus I of Syria.Concept
9.10 Religion, conquests and succession
🏫 School level · NCERT Class 6–12 History (the base for UPSC, BPSC, BSSC and other PSC exams)
From Ajivikas to the war of succession
| Theme | Evidence |
|---|---|
| Religion | Patron of the Ajivikas; an Ajivika astrologer, Pingalavatsa, was at his court (Divyavadana) |
| Southern conquest | Taranatha (17th-century Tibetan monk) says Chanakya, his minister, destroyed nobles and kings of 16 cities and made him master of the land between the eastern and western seas |
| Revolts | A revolt at Taxila; first Susima and then Ashoka were sent to put it down |
| Ministers | Chanakya early; later Khallataka and Radhagupta |
| Succession | A four-year struggle; Ashoka, helped by Radhagupta, defeated elder brother Susima; Buddhist texts exaggerate that he killed 99 brothers |
Founded by Makkhali Gosala, a contemporary of Mahavira and the Buddha, the Ajivikas held niyati (strict fatalism). Ashoka and his grandson Dasharatha later gave them the Barabar and Nagarjuni caves in Jehanabad/Gaya, Bihar.
- Ajivika patron (Pingalavatsa); Taranatha’s 16 cities; Taxila revolt.
- Succession war: Ashoka + Radhagupta vs Susima.
- Question: Who founded the Ajivikas? Answer: Makkhali Gosala.
MCQs
Answer this question, then use Next.
Question 4: Which religious philosophical sect was patronized by Emperor Bindusara?
[BPSC level] The founder of the Ajivika sect was:
[UPSC level] The core doctrine of the Ajivikas was:
[BPSC level] The Tibetan monk who credits Bindusara with conquering 16 cities was:
[BSSC pattern] During Bindusara’s reign a revolt broke out at:
[UPSC level] The minister who helped Ashoka win the throne was:
[BPSC level] Ashoka’s elder half-brother and rival for the throne was:
[UPSC level] Bindusara’s reign lasted approximately:
One-liners
Write your answer, then submit to see the correct answer.
Who founded the Ajivikas?
Makkhali Gosala.Concept
🎯 UPSC · BPSC · BSSC · State PSC level: PYQs and traps
| Exam | What it asks from this module |
|---|---|
| UPSC | Greek names of Mauryan kings; Ajivika doctrine |
| BPSC | Amitraghata; Deimachus; Barabar caves |
| BSSC / SSC | Father of Ashoka; envoys |
Which Mauryan king was known to the Greeks as Amitrochates? (a) Chandragupta (b) Bindusara (c) Ashoka (d) Dasharatha
- Amitrochates = Amitraghata = Bindusara. Sandrocottus = Chandragupta.
- Bindusara = Ajivika patron; Chandragupta = Jain; Ashoka = Buddhist (but tolerant of all).
- The 16-cities conquest story comes from Taranatha, a very late source.
- Radhagupta helped Ashoka; he was not Bindusara’s son.
- Sandrocottus = Chandragupta; Amitrochates = Bindusara.
- Question: Who was Bindusara’s minister later in his reign? Answer: Khallataka, then Radhagupta.
MCQs
Answer this question, then use Next.
[BPSC level] The Mauryan king known to the Greeks as Amitrochates was:
[School] Which Mauryan ruler was the father of Ashoka?
[UPSC level] Which pair of Mauryan king and his religious leaning is correct?
[BSSC pattern] The Barabar caves were gifted to the sect patronised by Bindusara, namely the:
[UPSC level] Athenaeus’ story of Bindusara’s letter is drawn from the writer:
One-liners
Write your answer, then submit to see the correct answer.
Who was Bindusara’s minister later in his reign?
Khallataka, then Radhagupta.