Vasumitra

This article is about the Indian monarch. For the Buddhist monk, see Vasumitra (Buddhism).

Vasumitra (or Sumitra, according to the d manuscript of the Matsya Purana)^[1] (r. 131 – 124 BCE; 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.

Vasumitra
Emperor
Emperor of Magadha
Reign	c. 131 – c. 124 BCE
Predecessor	Vasujyeshtha
Successor	Bhagabhadra
Died	124 BCE
Dynasty	Shunga
Father	Agnimitra
Mother	Dharini
Religion	Dharma

Life

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 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".^[2] But we know that the Shunga decline began during his reign.^[5] Sensing an opportunity, enemies began plotting.^[2] Banabhatta'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 encouraged 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]

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

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