The Cambridge History of India, Vol. I: Ancient India v1.c29.100

v1.c29.100

These meagre and conflicting lists are evidently no material for history: but they supply certain indications which may hereafter be verified. One of the Buddhist sources includes in the dynasty the name of Pushyamitra, really the founder of the succeeding line of the Çuṅgas: he was commander-in-chief to Bṛihadratha and he availed himself of a grand review of the army to overthrow and slay his master¹. Lest this error of the Buddhists should lead us wholly to prefer the Brāhman accounts, let us observe that the latter differ in numerous particulars, some naming more kings than others, and all presenting diversities of spelling: moreover, none of them justifies in detail the total of 137 years which they unanimously ascribe to the whole Maurya dynasty.