Vasumitra (or Sumitra, according to the ''d'' manuscript of the ''
Matsya Purana'') (; died 124 BCE) was the fourth
Shunga Emperor, who reigned from 131 to 124 BCE. He was the son of
Emperor Agnimitra by his
empress-consort Dharini and the brother or half-brother of
Emperor Vasujyesththa and the step son of Empress ''
Mālavikā,'' the third wife of Emperor
Agnimitra.
Life
Early life
In the ''
Mālavikāgnimitram'', act 5, verse 14,
Kālidāsa
Kālidāsa (, "Servant of Kali (god), Kali"; 4th–5th century CE) was a Classical Sanskrit author who is often considered ancient India's greatest poet and playwright. His plays and poetry are primarily based on Hindu Puranas and philosophy. ...
tells us that Vasumitra guarded the sacrificial horse let loose by his grandfather
Pushyamitra Shunga and he defeated a cavalry squadron of the ''
Yona
The word Yona in Pali and the Prakrits, and the analogue Yavana in Sanskrit, were used in Ancient India to designate Greek speakers. "Yona" and "Yavana" are transliterations of the Greek word for "Ionians" (), who were probably the first Gr ...
'' (
Indo-Greeks) on the banks of the
Indus River
The Indus ( ) is a transboundary river of Asia and a trans-Himalayas, Himalayan river of South Asia, South and Central Asia. The river rises in mountain springs northeast of Mount Kailash in the Western Tibet region of China, flows northw ...
.
At the news 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 (Vasumitra) "After becoming king, gave himself up to pleasure".
But we know that the
Shunga decline began during his reign.
[K.A. Nilkantha Shastri (1970)]
''A Comprehensive History of India: Volume 2''
p.108: "Soon after Agnimitra there was no 'Sunga empire'." Sensing an opportunity, enemies began plotting.
's ''
Harshacharita
The ''Harshacharita'' (, ; English: ''The deeds of Harsha'') is the biography of Indian emperor Harsha by Banabhatta, also known as Bana, who was a Sanskrit writer of seventh-century CE India. He was the ''Asthana Kavi'', meaning ''Court Poet ...
'' 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 encouraged other rulers to rebel and declare independence. Examples of these include
Panchala,
Kausambi, and
Mathura
Mathura () is a city and the administrative headquarters of Mathura district in the states and union territories of India, Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is located south-east of Delhi; and about from the town of Vrindavan. In ancient ti ...
.
Succession
He was succeeded by
Andhraka,
Antaka,
Bhagabhadra or Bhadra according to different
.
[Lahiri, Bela (1974). ''Indigenous States of Northern India (Circa 200 B.C. to 320 A.D.)'' Calcutta: University of Calcutta, pp.52-3]
Notes
Shunga dynasty
Emperors of Magadha
Year of birth unknown
124 BC deaths
2nd-century BC Indian monarchs
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