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{{Short description|Mauryan Emperor}}
{{about|Mauryan king|character from Hindu Epic Ramayana|Dasharatha}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2016}}
{{Infobox royalty
|succession = 4th [[List of Mauryan rulers|Mauryan emperor]]
|image =Dasaratha Maurya Empire.jpg
|caption = Emperor Dasaratha Maurya Empire
|reign = {{circa|232|224 BCE}}
|coronation =
|full name = Dasharatha Maurya
|religion = [[Ajivika]]
|predecessor = [[Ashoka]]
|successor = [[Samprati]]
|spouse =
|issue=
|dynasty = [[Maurya Empire|Maurya]]
|father =
|mother =
|birth_date = 252 BCE
|birth_place =
|death_date = 224 BCE
|death_place =
|date of burial =
|place of burial =
|title=Devanampiya}}
{{Maurya}}
'''Dasharatha''' ({{IAST3|Daśaratha}}) was a [[Mauryan Empire|Mauryan]] emperor from 232 to 224 BCE. He was a grandson of [[Ashoka]] and is commonly held to have succeeded him as the imperial ruler of [[Greater India|India]]. Dasharatha presided over a declining imperium and several territories of the empire broke away from central rule during his reign. He had continued the religious and social policies of Ashoka. Dasharatha was the last ruler of the [[Mauryan dynasty]] to have issued imperial inscriptions—thus the last Mauryan Emperor to be known from epigraphical sources.{{citation needed|date=November 2015}}

Dasharatha died in 224 BCE and was succeeded by his brother [[Samprati]].

==Background==
Dasharatha was a grandson of the Mauryan ruler [[Ashoka]].<ref name="ML">Asha Vishnu; ''Material Life of Northern India: Based on an Archaeological Study, 3rd Century B.C. to 1st Century B.C. Mittal Publications''. 1993. {{ISBN|978-8170994107}}. pg 3.</ref> He is commonly held to have succeeded his grandfather as imperial ruler in [[Greater India|India]] although some sources including the [[Vayu Purana]] have given different names and numbers of Mauryan Emperors after Ashoka.<ref name="ML"/> Of the grandsons of Ashoka, the two most frequently mentioned are [[Samprati]] and Dasharatha.<ref name="AI">Sailendra Nath Sen; ''Ancient Indian History And Civilization''. New Age International. 1999. {{ISBN|978-8122411980}}. pg 152-154.</ref> The latter is described in the [[Vishnu Purana]] as the son and imperial successor of Suyashas (a son of Ashoka).<ref name="AI"/> It has been suggested that Suyashas was an alternative name of Ashoka's son and presumptive heir [[Kunala]].<ref name="AI"/>

==Administration==
Historians [[Vincent Arthur Smith|Vincent Smith]] and [[Romila Thapar]] advanced the popular theory of a division of the Mauryan Empire amongst Kunala and Dasharatha after the death of Ashoka.<ref name="SII">Buddha Prakash; ''Studies in Indian history and civilization''. Shiva Lal Agarwala. 1962. pg 148-154.</ref> In some of the sources the division is recorded as having been between Samprati and Dasharatha, the latter holding the eastern parts with the capital at [[Pataliputra]] and the former the western imperium with the capital at [[Ujjain]].<ref name="HO">Rama Shankar Tripathi; ''History Of Ancient India. Motilal Banarsidass Publishers''. 1942. pg 179.</ref> However, Smith also wrote that "there is no clear evidence to support [the] hypothesis."<ref name="TE">Vincent A. Smith; ''The Early History of India''. Atlantic Publishers & Dist. 1999. {{ISBN|978-8171566181}}. pg 193-207.</ref>

The Vayu and [[Brahmanda Purana|Brahmanda]] Puranas mention three Mauryan rulers—Bandhupalita, Indrapalita and Dasona—whose identification is rather difficult.<ref name="AI"/> It has been suggested that they may have been members of a branch line of the Maurya dynasty whom Dasharatha had appointed as regional governors for the convenience of administration.<ref name="AI"/>

The political unity of the Mauryan Empire did not long survive Ashoka's death.<ref name="AI"/> One of Dasharatha's uncles, Jalauka, set up an independent kingdom in [[Kashmir]]. According to [[Taranatha]], another Mauryan prince, Virasena declared himself king in [[Gandhara]].<ref name="AI"/> [[Vidarbha]] also seceded. Evidence from [[Greece|Greek]] sources confirm the loss of the north-western provinces which was then ruled by the Mauryan ruler [[Sophagasenus]] (Subhagasena, probably a successor of Virasena).<ref name="AI"/> There is also much modern speculation about a possible east–west division of the empire involving Dasharatha and another Mauryan ruler.<ref name="SII"/> Epigraphic evidence indicates that Dasharatha retained imperial power in [[Magadha]].<ref name="THO">Kenneth Pletcher; ''The History of India''. The Rosen Publishing Group. 2010. {{ISBN|978-1615302017}}. pg 70.</ref> He was a weak monarch and not much of an able military leader.

Various dynasties of the [[South India|south]] including the [[Satavahana dynasty|Satavahana]] had been feudatories of the Mauryan Empire. These kingdoms are mentioned in Ashoka's edicts (256 BCE) and were considered part of the outer circle of the imperium—subject to the rule of the Mauryan Emperor, although doubtless enjoying a considerable degree of autonomy under their local rulers.<ref name="TE"/> The death of Ashoka began the decline of imperial power in the south. Dasharatha was able to maintain some command of the home provinces, but the distant governments, including areas in the south, broke away from imperial rule and reasserted their independence.<ref name="TE"/> The [[Mahameghavahana dynasty]] of [[Kalinga (historical region)|Kalinga]] in central-eastern India also broke away from imperial rule after the death of Ashoka.<ref name="TE"/>

According to a [[Jain]] text, the provinces of [[Surashtra]], [[Maharashtra]], [[Andhra Pradesh|Andhra]], and the [[Mysore]] region broke away from the empire shortly after Ashoka's death, but were reconquered by Dasharatha's successor, [[Samprati]] (who supposedly deployed soldiers disguised as Jain monks).<ref name="Chandra1977">{{cite book|author=Moti Chandra|title=Trade and Trade Routes in Ancient India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rDL4kA7SWkEC&pg=PA75|year=1977|publisher=Abhinav Publications|isbn=978-81-7017-055-6|pages=75–}}</ref>

==Religion==
[[File:Barabar Caves - Cave Entrance with Dorjee (9227649922).jpg|left|thumb|Entrance corridor of the [[Barabar Caves|Gopika Cave]], with polished [[granite]] walls, built and dedicated by Dasharatha Maurya.]]
Ashoka had displayed divine support in his [[Ashoka inscriptions|inscriptions]]; although a [[Buddhist]] ruler, he was called [[Devanampiya (title)|Devanampiya]], which means "Beloved of the Gods" in [[Pali]].<ref name="PI">Ram Sharan Sharma; ''Perspectives in social and economic history of early India''. Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers. 1995. {{ISBN|978-8121506724}}. pg 107.</ref> The title of Devanampiya and religious adherence of the Mauryan ruler to Buddhism was continued by Dasharatha.<ref name="PI"/><ref name="SI">Lal Mani Joshi; ''Studies in the Buddhistic Culture of India During the 7th and 8th Centuries A.D.'' Motilal Banarsidass Publishers. 1977. {{ISBN|978-8120802810}}. pg 362.</ref>

Dasharatha is known to have dedicated three caves in the [[Barabar Caves|Nagarjuni Hills]] to the [[Ajivikas]]. Three inscriptions at the caves refer to him as "''Devanampiya''" and state that the caves were dedicated by him shortly after his accession.<ref>Romila Thapar; ''{{IAST|Aśoka}} and the Decline of the Maurya''. Oxford University Press. 2001. {{ISBN|0-19-564445-X}}. pg 186.</ref>

===Nagarjuni caves inscriptions by Dasaratha Maurya===
[[File: Dasaratha Maurya inscription on entrance of Vadathika cave.jpg|thumb|Dedicatory inscription of Dasaratha Maurya above the entrance of the Vadathika cave.]]
[[Dasaratha Maurya]], Ashoka's grandson and regnal successor, wrote dedicatory inscriptions in the three forming the Nagarjuni group (Gopika, Vadathi and Vapiya caves) of the [[Barabar Caves]].<ref name="HP">Buddhist Architecture par Huu Phuoc Le [https://books.google.com/books?id=9jb364g4BvoC&pg=PA102 p.102]</ref> It is generally considered that their construction dates from his reign.<ref name = "HP"/>

The three caves were offered to the [[Ajivikas]] upon the accession to the throne of Dasaratha, confirming that these were still active around 230 BCE, and that [[Buddhism]] was not the exclusive religion of the Mauryas at that time.<ref name = "HP"/>

The three caves are also characterized by an extremely advanced finish of the granite walls inside, which again confirms that the technique of "Mauryan polish" did not die out with the reign of Ashoka.<ref name = "HP"/>
{{Clr}}
{| class = "wikitable center"
|+ Inscriptions of Dasaratha (grandson of Ashoka)
|-
! scope = "col" align = center | English translation !! [[Prakrit]] in [[Brahmi]] script (original text of the Nagarjuni Caves) 
|-
| align = left |
{{Block quote | Inscription of [[Barabar Caves|Gopika cave]]: '' "The cave of Gopika, a refuge that will last as long as the sun and the moon, was dug by Devanampiya (beloved of the gods) Dasaratha at from his elevation to the throne, to make it a hermitage for the most pious Ajivikas "".<ref name = "HP" /> [[File: Dasaratha_Maurya_inscription_on_entrance_of_Gopika_cave.jpg | 30px]]

Inscription of [[Barabar Caves|Vapiyaka Cave]]: '' "Vadathi Cave, a refuge that will last as long as the sun and the moon, was dug by Devanampiya (beloved of the gods) Dasaratha during his elevation to the throne, to make it a hermitage for the most pious Ajivikas "''.<ref name =" HP "/> [[File:Vapiyaka inscription of emperor Dasaratha Maurya.jpg|30px]]

Inscription of [[Barabar Caves|Vadathika Cave]]: '' "Vadathi Cave, a refuge that will last as long as the sun and the moon, was dug by Devanampiya (beloved of the gods) Dasaratha during his elevation to the throne, to make it a hermitage for the most pious Ajivikas "''.<ref name =" HP "/> [[File:Dasaratha Maurya inscription on entrance of Vadathika cave.jpg|30px]]
}}
| align = center width = "30%" |
[[File:Dasaratha Maurya Nagarjuni caves inscriptions in Barabar.jpg|200px]]
|}

==Succession==
Samprati, who succeeded Dasharatha, was according to the [[Hindu]] [[Puranas]],<ref name="AI"/> the latter's son and according to the Buddhist and [[Jain]] sources,<ref name="AI"/> Kunala's son (making him possibly a brother of Dasharatha). The familial relationship between the two is thus not clear although evidently they were closely related members of the imperial family.<ref name="AI"/>

== Notes ==
{{reflist|30em}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-hou|[[Maurya Dynasty]]||||}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Ashoka]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Maurya Dynasty|Maurya Emperor]]|years=232–224 BCE}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Samprati]]}}
{{s-end}}

[[Category:Mauryan emperors]]
[[Category:3rd-century BC Indian monarchs]]
[[Category:224 BC deaths]]
[[Category:Year of birth unknown]]
[[Category:Indian Buddhists]]
[[Category:Indian Buddhist monarchs]]

Dasharatha Maurya - Revision history

104.22.48.134 at 05:02, 16 March 2026