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'''Vasumitra''' (or '''Sumitra''', according to the ''d'' manuscript of the ''[[Matsya Purana]]'')<ref>Lahiri, Bela (1974). ''Indigenous States of Northern India (Circa 200 B.C. to 320 A.D.)'' Calcutta: University of Calcutta, p.47</ref> ({{reign|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]].
'''Vasumitra''' (or '''Sumitra''', according to the ''d'' manuscript of the ''[[Matsya Purana]]'')<ref>Lahiri, Bela (1974). ''Indigenous States of Northern India (Circa 200 B.C. to 320 A.D.)'' Calcutta: University of Calcutta, p.47</ref> ({{reign|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 ''[[Mālavikāgnimitram|Mālavikā]], the third wife of King [[Agnimitra]].''


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-Greek Kingdom|Indo-Greeks]]) on the banks of the [[Indus River]].<ref>Lahiri, Bela (1974). ''Indigenous States of Northern India (Circa 200 B.C. to 320 A.D.)'' Calcutta: University of Calcutta, p.51</ref><ref>[https://archive.org/stream/cu31924022967578#page/n113 The Malavikágnimitra : a Sanskrit play by Kālidāsa; Tawney, C. H. p.91]</ref>
==Early life==
{{Confusing section|date=November 2021|reason=Second paragraph mentions a play with no previous reference. What play? What is historical and what is derived from the play?}}


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. He was succeeded by [[Andhraka]], [[Antaka]], [[Bhagabhadra]] or Bhadra according to different [[puranas]].<ref>Lahiri, Bela (1974). ''Indigenous States of Northern India (Circa 200 B.C. to 320 A.D.)'' Calcutta: University of Calcutta, pp.52-3</ref>
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-Greek Kingdom|Indo-Greeks]]) on the banks of the [[Indus River]].<ref name="ancient">{{cite book |title=Ancient Indian History and Civilization |first=Sailendra Nath  |last=Sen |publisher=New Age International, 1999 |year=1999 |isbn=978-8-12241-198-0 |page=170 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Wk4_ICH_g1EC&pg=PA170}}</ref><ref>Lahiri, Bela (1974). ''Indigenous States of Northern India (Circa 200 B.C. to 320 A.D.)'' Calcutta: University of Calcutta, p.51</ref><ref>[https://archive.org/stream/cu31924022967578#page/n113 The Malavikágnimitra : a Sanskrit play by Kālidāsa; Tawney, C. H. p.91]</ref> 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 ''[[Mālavikāgnimitram|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".<ref name="ancient"/> But we know that the [[Shunga Empire|Shunga]] decline began during his reign.<ref name="books.google.com">K.A. Nilkantha Shastri (1970), [https://books.google.com/books?id=E3tDAAAAYAAJ ''A Comprehensive History of India: Volume 2''], p.108: "Soon after Agnimitra there was no 'Sunga empire'."</ref> Sensing an opportunity, enemies began plotting.<ref name="ancient"/>
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 [[Kosala|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#Post-Mauryan period|Panchala]], [[Mitra dynasty (Kosambi)|Kausambi]], and [[Mathura]].<ref name="ancient"/><ref name="Mitchiner1978">{{cite book|author=Michael Mitchiner|title=The ancient & classical world, 600 B.C.-A.D. 650|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zuQLAQAAMAAJ|year=1978|publisher=Hawkins Publications; distributed by B. A. Seaby|isbn=978-0-904173-16-1|page=577}}</ref>
 
==Succession==
He was succeeded by [[Andhraka]], [[Antaka]], [[Bhagabhadra]] or Bhadra according to different [[puranas]].<ref>Lahiri, Bela (1974). ''Indigenous States of Northern India (Circa 200 B.C. to 320 A.D.)'' Calcutta: University of Calcutta, pp.52-3</ref>


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Latest revision as of 06:00, 6 December 2021

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

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.

Early life[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

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

Preceded by
Vasujyeshtha
Shunga Emperor
131–124 BCE
Succeeded by
Bhagabhadra

Notes[edit | edit source]

  1. Lahiri, Bela (1974). Indigenous States of Northern India (Circa 200 B.C. to 320 A.D.) Calcutta: University of Calcutta, p.47
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 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