Dasharatha Maurya

Dasharatha Maurya Biography

Dasharatha Maurya was the 4th Emperor of the Maurya Empire started by Chandragupta Maurya. He was a grandson of Ashoka and he came into power when the glory of the empire started declining and several territories have broken down from central power. He succeeded his grandfather Ashoka after his uncle Kunala became blind making him unfit for the rule. He was the last ruler of the dynasty to have issued imperial inscriptions. He was succeeded by his cousin Samprati (Kunala’s son) after his death in 224 BCE. He ruled the empire during the period - 232 to 224 BCE.

Dasharatha Maurya succeeded Ashoka as imperial ruler in India, though different sources give different names to the successor of Ashoka, after he accepted Buddhism. The names of Samprati and Dasharatha are mentioned frequently. As per certain sources, a division of empire between the two has also recorded; Dasharatha ruled Patali Putra and eastern parts of the empire while Samprati took the power of Ujjain. But there is no clear evidence to support this hypothesis. After Ashoka’s death, political unity of the empire also started declining, resulting in the setup of different small kingdoms in Kashmir, Gandhara etc. However Dasharatha retained imperial power in Magadha. Imperial power in south also couldn’t survive long after Ashoka’s death. Kalinga broke away from central power.

Dasharatha Maurya was the last Mauryan Emperor to be known from epigraphical sources. He was only 20 years when he ascended the throne with the help of ministers and ruled for 8 years. He dedicated three caves in the Nagarjuni Hills to the Ajivikas. He was succeeded by Kunala’s son – Samprati. He passed away on 224 BCE.

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Updated: September 24, 2017