Vasumitra

Vasumitra (or Sumitra, according to the d manuscript of the Matsya Purana)[1] (r. 131 – 124 BCE; died 124 BCE) was the fourth ruler of the Shunga Empire of North India. He was the son of Agnimitra by his queen Dharini and brother or half-brother of Vasujyeshtha, the step son of Queen Mālavikā, the third wife of King Agnimitra.

Vasumitra
Shunga Emperor
Reign131–124 BCE
PredecessorVasujyeshtha
SuccessorBhagabhadra
Died124 BCE
FatherAgnimitra
MotherDharini

Early life

In the Mālavikāgnimitram, act 5, verse 14, Kālidāsa tells us that Vasumitra guarded the sacrificial horse let loose by his grandfather Pushyamitra Shunga and he defeated a cavalry squadron of the Yona (Indo-Greeks) on the banks of the Indus River.[2][3][4] At the new of the victory of her son Vasumitra, Dharini promises to reward Mālavikā, gives her to the King and gladly consents to their union. Vasumitra's victory played a vital role in the union of his father Agnimitra and Mālavikā.

After this happy termination of the course of the royal love, the play ends with the customary Bharatavakya which here takes the form of an expression of general peace and happiness among the King's subjects.

Reign

According to Sailendra Nath Sen, he (Vasmuitra) "After becoming king, gave himself up to pleasure".[2] But we know that the Shunga decline began during his reign.[5] Sensing an opportunity, enemies began plotting.[2] Bana's Harshacharita mentioned him as Sumitra and informed us that he was killed by Mitradeva (or Muladeva, according to some manuscripts) while enjoying a drama. Muladeva is regarded as the founder of the independent Principality of Kosala. The secession of Kosala extinguished the Shunga hold over territories west of Magadha but also must have encourages other rulers to rebel and declare independence. Examples of these include Panchala, Kausambi, and Mathura.[2][6]

Succession

He was succeeded by Andhraka, Antaka, Bhagabhadra or Bhadra according to different puranas.[7]

Notes
  1. Lahiri, Bela (1974). Indigenous States of Northern India (Circa 200 B.C. to 320 A.D.) Calcutta: University of Calcutta, p.47
  2. Sen, Sailendra Nath (1999). Ancient Indian History and Civilization. New Age International, 1999. p. 170. ISBN 978-8-12241-198-0.
  3. Lahiri, Bela (1974). Indigenous States of Northern India (Circa 200 B.C. to 320 A.D.) Calcutta: University of Calcutta, p.51
  4. The Malavikágnimitra : a Sanskrit play by Kālidāsa; Tawney, C. H. p.91
  5. K.A. Nilkantha Shastri (1970), A Comprehensive History of India: Volume 2, p.108: "Soon after Agnimitra there was no 'Sunga empire'."
  6. Michael Mitchiner (1978). The ancient & classical world, 600 B.C.-A.D. 650. Hawkins Publications; distributed by B. A. Seaby. p. 577. ISBN 978-0-904173-16-1.
  7. Lahiri, Bela (1974). Indigenous States of Northern India (Circa 200 B.C. to 320 A.D.) Calcutta: University of Calcutta, pp.52-3


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