Political History of Ancient India, from the Accession of Parikshit to the Extinction of the Gupta Dynasty c12.s3.44

c12.s3.44

The throne of **Avanti** was, in the days of Udayana, occupied by Chaṇḍa Pradyota Mahāsena whose daughter, Vāsavadattā, became the chief queen of the lord of the Vatsas. Regarding the character of Pradyota the *Mahāvagga* says that he was cruel.² The *Purāṇas* observe that he was “*nayavarjita*”, *i.e.*, destitute of good policy and add that “he will indeed have the neighbouring kings subject to him—*sa vai praṇata-sāmantaḥ*”. He had at one time made the Vatsa king a captive and had a close relation on the throne of Mathurā. The terror that he struck among his neighbours is apparent from a statement of the *Majjhima Nikāya*³ that Ajātaśatru, son of Bimbisāra, fortified Rājagṛiha because he was afraid of an invasion of his territories by Pradyota. He also waged war on Pushkarasārin, the king of Taxila.⁴