Brihadrata

Brihadrata, also rendered Brihadrath or Brihadrata, is a figure in ancient Indian history commonly identified as the last ruler of the Maurya Empire, a position that marks the transition to the Sunga Dynasty. The name is Sanskrit in form, typically interpreted as meaning “great-bearing” or “greatly steadfast,” though etymologies vary.

Identity and reign

Traditionally Brihadrata is placed at the end of the Maurya line, ruling in the late 3rd to 2nd century BCE. He is most commonly associated with the account that his death or overthrow by his commander, Pushyamitra Sunga, led to the establishment of the Sunga Dynasty in Magadha. In this narrative, Brihadrata’s removal terminated Mauryan imperial dominance in the eastern Indian subcontinent and set the stage for a new era of regional rule under the Sungas. The exact dates, genealogical details, and even the historicity of Brihadrata are debated, as contemporary inscriptions are scarce and later traditional histories embellish or vary the sequence of events.

Sources and historiography

Much of what is stated about Brihadrata comes from later Sanskrit chronicles, dynastic lists, and Buddhist and Jain literature, rather than from contemporary Mauryan inscriptions. Because of limited primary sources, historians caution that Brihadrata’s existence and role may be partially legendary or retrojected into later periods. Modern scholarship often treats him as part of the traditional narrative describing the shift from Mauryan centralization to regional rule under the Sungas.

Legacy

If Brihadrata was the last Mauryan ruler, his reputed overthrow symbolizes a major turning point in ancient Indian political history, influencing the trajectory of Magadha’s imperial and cultural developments during the ensuing centuries.