Political History of Ancient India, from the Accession of Parikshit to the Extinction of the Gupta Dynasty c12.s6.21

c12.s6.21

**Susunāga** or **Śiśunāga**, the new king³ seems to have been acting as the Magadhan Viceroy at Benares. The employment of *amātyas* as provincial governors or district officers need not cause surprise. The custom continued as late as the time of Gautamīputra Sātakarṇi and Rudradāman I. The *Purāṇas* tell us that "placing his son at Benares he will repair to (the stronghold of) Girivraja". He had a second royal residence at Vaiśālī which ultimately became his capital.⁴ "That monarch (Śiśunāga), not unmindful of his mother's origin,⁵ re-established the city of Vesālī (Vaiśālī) and fixed in it the royal residence. From that time Rājagaha (Rājagṛiha-Girivraja) lost her rank of royal city which she never afterwards recovered".