After a rule of 24 years, Chandragupta Maurya, the first Mauryan Emperor, was succeeded by his son Bindusara who ruled from around 297 BCE to 273 BCE. According to the 12th century CE Jain text Parishishtaparvan by Hemachandra (court poet of Jayasimha Siddharaja, the Chalukya ruler of Anhilwara), Bindusara's mother was Durdhara. The Greek historian Athenaeus calls him Amitrochates (Sanskrit Amitraghata “Slayer of Foes” or Amitrakhada “Devourer of Foes”). It is not known how he got the title of Amitrochates.
Bindusara was the father of Asoka, the greatest ruler of India. The Jain scholar Hemachandra and the Tibetan historian Taranatha mention that Chanakya, also known as Kautilya, was also prime minster of Bindusara.
Bindusara maintained friendly relations with the Hellenic world that had been established in the later days of his father. According to Athenaeus, Bindusara requested the Syrian king Antiochus I “to present him sweet wine, dried figs and a philosopher”. Thereupon, the Seleucid king of Syria sent him the figs and wine and replied , “The Greek law forbids a philosopher to be exported.” Pliny states that Ptolemy Philladelphus of Egypt sent Dionysius as his ambassador to India.
Bindusara had a large family. The Fifth Rock Edict issued by Ashoka states that he had many brothers and sisters. Two of these brothers are named in the Buddhist text Divyadana as Susima and Vigatasoka, whom the Sri Lankan Chronicles name Summan and Trishya. The former was Asoka’s step brother. Asoka’s mother was named Subhadrangi or Dharma, and Trishya was his youngest brother. Bindusara appointed his eldest son Sumana (also named Susima) as his Viceroy at Taxila and Asoka at Ujjaini. The Divyadana tells the story of a revolt in Taxila. When it went out of control for Sumana or Susima, Bindusara deputed Asoka to restore order.
Bindusara’s death sparked a deadly war of succession among his sons. In this fratricidal war of succession, Ashoka emerged victorious after several years of conflict.
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