Brihadratha
Topic: The Mauryan Empire · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
Brihadratha was the last ruler of the Maurya dynasty. By his time, about half a century after Ashoka's death, the empire had shrunk and smaller kingdoms had broken away. In c. 185 BCE his own army commander, Pushyamitra Shunga, killed him. Pushyamitra then started the Shunga dynasty. Brihadratha's death marks the end of Mauryan rule.
Example
According to the later writer Banabhatta in his Harshacharita, Pushyamitra killed Brihadratha in c. 185 BCE while the king was reviewing the army. Pushyamitra then took the throne of Magadha himself.
Don't confuse with
- Brihadratha of the Brihadratha dynasty: a legendary early king of Magadha, said to be the father of Jarasandha in the Mahabharata. He lived long before the Mauryas.