Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c13.s3.t2.28

v2.c13.s3.t2.28

Chinese records. It is located in the coastal region in east India, between the Godavari and Mahanadi rivers. Its territory is equal to about today’s Odisha, and its capital was Dantapura. The ancient Indian classic work, the *Puranas*, has listed the 32 rulers of Kalinga. It was conquered by the Nanda dynasty of Magadha (about 346 BC–324 BC), and then later recovered its independence. In the early years of the Maurya dynasty (324 BC–185 BC), the Greek Megasthenes, who was the envoy sent by Seleucus Nikator to the Maurya dynasty, also mentioned this country. He said its army was strong, with 60,000 infantry, 1,000 cavalry and 700 war elephants. The country’s overseas trade flourished and the economy was prosperous. However, around 260 BC, the third king Asoka of the Maurya dynasty annexed it after a brutal war. The consequence of the war was that 1,00,000 people were killed, 1,50,000 people were captured and the same number of people died indirectly as a result of the war. It is said that Asoka deeply regretted the suffering brought about by the war and so turned to the peaceful “Saddhamma” policy. It is said that this was the point from which he began to believe in Buddhism. Shortly after Asoka’s death, Kalinga regained independence at the end of the 3rd century BC. In the 2nd century BC, during the reign of Khàravela, the country once again became powerful and prosperous. Magadha was subdued and Kalinga captured Rajagrha. Its troops reached Punjab in the west and the Pandya in the south. After Khàravela’s death, the country began to decline again.