page_title: Ajatashatru
hierarchical_section_title: Ajatashatru
caption_attribution_description: English: Royal cortege leaving Rajagriha. Marshall p.60
context_page_description: Ajatashatru was a king of the Haryanka dynasty of Magadha in East India. He was the son of King Bimbisara and was a contemporary of both Mahavira and Gautama Buddha. He forcefully took over the kingdom of Magadha from his father and imprisoned him. He fought a war against Vajji, ruled by the Lichchhavis, and conquered the republic of Vesali.
  Ajatashatru followed policies of conquest and expansion. He defeated his neighbours including the king of Kosala; his brothers, when at odds with him, went to Kashi, which had been given to Bimbisara as dowry. This led to a war between Magadha and Kosala. Ajatashatru occupied Kashi and captured the smaller kingdoms. Magadha under Ajatashatru became the most powerful kingdom in North India.
  He is the inventor of two weapons used in war called rathamusala and mahashilakantaka.
context_section_description: Ajatashatru (Sanskrit: Ajātaśatru, Pāli: Ajātasattu; 492 to 460 BCE or early 5th century BCE) was a king of the Haryanka dynasty of Magadha in East India.  He was the son of King Bimbisara and was a contemporary of both Mahavira (Nigantha Nataputta) and Gautama Buddha. He forcefully took over the kingdom of Magadha from his father and imprisoned him.  He fought a war against Vajji, ruled by the Lichchhavis, and conquered the republic of Vesali.
  Ajatashatru followed policies of conquest and expansion. He defeated his neighbours including the king of Kosala; his brothers, when at odds with him, went to Kashi, which had been given to Bimbisara as dowry. This led to a war between Magadha and Kosala. Ajatashatru occupied Kashi and captured the smaller kingdoms. Magadha under Ajatashatru became the most powerful kingdom in North India.
  He is the inventor of two weapons used in war called rathamusala (Scythed chariot) and mahashilakantaka (engine for ejecting big stones).
caption: Royal procession leaving Rajagriha, possibly depicting Ajatashatru, from Sanchi[1]
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