Political History of Ancient India, from the Accession of Parikshit to the Extinction of the Gupta Dynasty c14.s3.1

c14.s3.1

Both the *Divyāvadāna* and the Ceylonese Chronicles agree that there was a fratricidal struggle after the death of Bindusāra. Aśoka is said to have overthrown his eldest step-brother with the help of Rādhagupta whom he made his *Agrāmātya* (Chief Minister). Dr. Smith observes,¹ "the fact that his formal consecration or coronation (*abhisheka*) was delayed for some four years² until 269 B.C., confirms the tradition that his succession was contested, and it may be true that his rival was an elder brother named Susīma." In his *Aśoka*³ published a few months later, he says, "it is possible that the long delay may have been due to a disputed succession involving much bloodshed, but there is no independent evidence of such a struggle." Dr. Jayaswal⁴ gave the following explanation for the delay in Aśoka's coronation: "it seems that in those days for obtaining royal *abhisheka*⁵ the age of 25 was a condition precedent. This seems to explain why Aśoka was not crowned for three or four years after accession." The contention can hardly be accepted. The *Mahābhārata*, for instance, informs us that the *abhisheka* of king Vichitravīrya took place when he was a mere child who had not yet reached the period of youth: