The Geographical Dictionary of Ancient and Mediaeval India c5.s2.105

c5.s2.105

Bessanagara—Besnagar, close to Sanchi in the kingdom of Bhopal, at the junction of the Besali or Bes river with the Betva, about three miles from Bhilsa. It is also called Chetiya, Chetiyanagara, or Chetyagiri (Chaityagiri) in the *Mahâvaṃśa*. It was the ancient capital of Daśârṇa. Aśoka married Devî, the daughter of the chieftain of this place, on his way to Ujjayinî of which place, while a prince, he was nominated governor. By Devî, he had twin sons, Ujjeniya and Mahinda and a daughter Saṅghâmitta. The two last named were sent by their father to introduce Buddhism into Ceylon with a branch of the Bodhi-tree of Buddha-Gayâ. Aśoka was the grandson of Chandragupta of Pâṭaliputra, and reigned from 273 to 232 B.C. A column was discovered at Besnagar, which from the inscription appears to have been set up by Heliodorous of Taxila who was a devotee of Viṣṇu, as Garuḍa dhvaja, in the reign of Antialkidas, a Bactrian king who reigned about 150 B.C. See Chetiyagiri.