Mod 1: Pushyamitra’s Coup and the Sources — 185 BCE, the Title “Senapati”, Origins of the Shungas and How We Know
Concept
10.1 The coup of 185 BCE
🏫 School level · NCERT Class 6–12 History (the base for UPSC, BPSC, BSSC and other PSC exams)
From commander to king
In about 185 BCE the Mauryan commander-in-chief Pushyamitra Shunga killed the last Maurya, Brihadratha, while the king was inspecting the army. Bana’s Harshacharita (7th century CE) describes the deed and calls Pushyamitra an “anarya” (ignoble) senani. Pushyamitra founded the Shunga dynasty, which ruled from Pataliputra, with Vidisha (Madhya Pradesh) as a second great centre.
Even after seizing the throne, Pushyamitra kept his old military title Senapati; the Ayodhya inscription of his descendant Dhanadeva calls him “Senapati Pushyamitra”. Historians suggest he wished to appear as the army’s guardian of the realm rather than a usurping king.
| View | Basis |
|---|---|
| Brahmanas of the Bharadvaja gotra (most accepted) | Panini’s gana lists and later texts name the Shungas as Bharadvajas; the Ashvamedha fits a Brahmanical house |
| Related to the Mauryas | Divyavadana makes Pushyamitra a Maurya descendant — generally rejected |
| Persian origin | An old guess from the name “-mitra” (Mithra) — not accepted |
- 185 BCE: Senapati Pushyamitra kills Brihadratha at an army review (Harshacharita).
- Kept title Senapati; Brahmanas of Bharadvaja gotra; capitals Pataliputra & Vidisha.
- Question: Which title did Pushyamitra keep? Answer: Senapati.
MCQs
Answer this question, then use Next.
Question 1: Which military title did Pushyamitra retain even after ascending the throne of Magadha?
[School] The Shunga dynasty was founded by:
[BPSC level] Pushyamitra killed Brihadratha while the king was:
[UPSC level] The Harshacharita describes Pushyamitra as:
[BPSC level] Besides Pataliputra, an important Shunga centre was:
[UPSC level] Most historians regard the Shungas as:
[BSSC pattern] Pushyamitra held which post under the last Mauryan king?
One-liners
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Which title did Pushyamitra keep?
Senapati.Concept
10.2 How do we know about the Shungas?
🏫 School level · NCERT Class 6–12 History (the base for UPSC, BPSC, BSSC and other PSC exams)
Texts, plays and inscriptions
| Source | What it tells |
|---|---|
| Puranas (Matsya, Vayu, Vishnu) | 10 Shunga kings, 112 years; Pushyamitra 36 years |
| Harshacharita | Murder of Brihadratha at an army parade |
| Mahabhashya | Yavana sieges of Saketa and Madhyamika; sacrifices for Pushyamitra |
| Malavikagnimitram | Agnimitra as viceroy at Vidisha; Vidarbha war; Vasumitra’s victory on the Sindhu |
| Divyavadana (Buddhist) | Hostile picture: Pushyamitra as persecutor of Buddhists |
| Ayodhya inscription of Dhanadeva | Two Ashvamedhas; title Senapati |
| Bharhut and Besnagar inscriptions | “Suganam raje” (in the reign of the Shungas); Heliodorus and Bhagabhadra |
The Yuga Purana, part of the astronomical text Gargi Samhita, speaks of “viciously valiant Yavanas” reaching Saketa, Panchala, Mathura and Kusumadhvaja (Pataliputra) and then withdrawing because of civil war among themselves. Scholars such as J. E. Mitchiner date it to the 1st century BCE; it is our only near-contemporary Indian account of the Indo-Greek raid.
- Puranas: 10 kings, 112 years; Pushyamitra 36 years.
- Sources: Mahabhashya, Malavikagnimitram, Divyavadana, Ayodhya, Bharhut, Besnagar, Yuga Purana.
- Question: Which inscription says “Suganam raje”? Answer: The Bharhut gateway inscription.
MCQs
Answer this question, then use Next.
[BPSC level] According to the Puranas, how many Shunga kings ruled?
[BPSC level] The Puranas give the Shunga dynasty a rule of about:
[UPSC level] The Puranas assign Pushyamitra a reign of:
[UPSC level] Which source paints Pushyamitra as a persecutor of Buddhists?
[BPSC level] The phrase “Suganam raje” (in the reign of the Shungas) occurs on a gateway at:
[UPSC level] The Yuga Purana forms part of which text?
[BSSC pattern] Kusumadhvaja in the Yuga Purana is another name for:
One-liners
Write your answer, then submit to see the correct answer.
Which inscription says “Suganam raje”?
The Bharhut gateway inscription.Concept
🎯 UPSC · BPSC · BSSC · State PSC level: PYQs, traps and mains
| Exam | What it asks from this module |
|---|---|
| UPSC | Sources; Brahmanical identity; Yuga Purana |
| BPSC | Founder; 185 BCE; title Senapati; capital Pataliputra |
| BSSC / SSC | Who killed Brihadratha |
The founder of the Shunga dynasty was: (a) Agnimitra (b) Pushyamitra (c) Vasudeva (d) Devabhuti
- Pushyamitra, the Mauryan senapati, killed Brihadratha c. 185 BCE. Agnimitra was his son; Devabhuti the last Shunga; Vasudeva founded the Kanvas.
- Pushyamitra kept the title Senapati, not Maharajadhiraja.
- Pushyamitra (Shunga founder) ≠ Pushyagupta (Chandragupta’s governor in Saurashtra).
- The Harshacharita is 7th-century CE — a late source for a 2nd-century BCE event.
Model question: Critically examine the sources for the history of the Shunga dynasty. Points: Puranic lists; Harshacharita; Mahabhashya as near-contemporary; Kalidasa’s play (later, literary); hostile Buddhist Divyavadana; inscriptions (Ayodhya, Bharhut, Besnagar); Yuga Purana; coins.
- Harshacharita is late (7th c. CE); Mahabhashya near-contemporary.
- Question: Who wrote the Harshacharita? Answer: Banabhatta.
MCQs
Answer this question, then use Next.
[BPSC level] Who killed the last Maurya and founded a new dynasty in 185 BCE?
[UPSC level] Which of these is a near-contemporary source for Pushyamitra’s reign?
[BSSC pattern] The Shungas’ capital was:
[UPSC level] Which statement about the Shunga coup is correct?
[School] The Shunga dynasty came immediately after the:
[BPSC level] Dhanadeva, whose inscription mentions Pushyamitra, ruled at:
One-liners
Write your answer, then submit to see the correct answer.
Who wrote the Harshacharita?
Banabhatta.