Question

4.->How was Ajatshatru different from his father Bimbisara?
5. Write in short about the Lichchhavis.​

Answer 1

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Bimbisara ruled from a place called Girivraja, which was also known as Rajagriha and is identified with modern Rajgir now. He made three important marriage alliances during his time, out of which Princess Chellana of the Licchavi clan of the Vrijji confederation and daughter of King Chetaka was the mother of Ajatashatru. Ajatashatru, also known as Kunika, grew up in Rajagriha under the able guidance of his father. He was trained in ancient Indian warfare, archery, fencing, horse riding, knowledge of the scriptures and many other disciplines in accordance with the Indian tradition of princely education. There are various legends associated with the birth of Ajatashatru in both the Jain and Buddhist literature. His name in the local language means ‘one whose enemy has never been born and hence he is already victorious’ and it is said that Ajatashatru’s mother had bad dreams and negative premonitions during her pregnancy which indicated that the child born would be evil.

Ajatashatru’s cruelty brought him to the throne, but his ambitions did not end there. He wanted a greater kingdom for himself. In the meantime, shocked at the patricide committed by Bimbisara’s own son, one of his wives, the princess from the Kingdom of Kosala died too out of grief or followed her husband by committing suicide. She was the sister of King Prasanajita, the ruler of the Kingdom of Kosala who had gifted the flourishing city of Kashi to Bimbisara as dowry. After losing both his sister and brother-in-law, an ally, Prasanajita was enraged and took Kashi back. This gave Ajatashatru a reason to attack Kosala, which roughly corresponds to some part of the modern-day Uttar Pradesh state of India. The battle between Ajatashatru and Prasanajita witnessed a see-saw of fortunes for both. Once, when Ajatashatru was defeated and caught without guard, his life was spared by the older Prasanajita who soon forgave him and also returned the city of Kashi to him.