Mahapadma Nanda – The Warrior King

Indian King Mahapadma Nanda:

Mahapadma Nanda was the founder of the Nanda Dynasty. He was born to Mahanandin, the king of the Shishunaga Dynasty, and a Sudra woman in 400 BCE. Earlier, his father’s wives and sons opposed him from becoming king, but Mahapadma Nanda eliminated all of them and gained the throne.

Expand his Kingdom:

Mahapadma Nanda, the first great North Indian King, established a strong kingdom of Magadha. He defeated the old dynasties and uprooted the entire contemporary Kshatriya Dynasties. He expanded the Magadha kingdom from Punjab in the west to Bengal in the east and the Vindhya mountains in the south. Almost present North India and ruled by him. He became a mighty king and declared Ekachhatra the only emperor. His dream of a Sole ruler came into truth. He gave a new life to the idea of Magadha imperialism, which was running low-key after the death of Ajathasatru.

Administration:

Moreover, he collected a substantial land tax from his vast kingdom and utilized the money to maintain his army. He was prosperous and concentrated on Agriculture and water facilities before the drought. So he dug the canals from the Ganges river and made the lands fertile. After conquering the Kalinga kingdom, he recognized Kalinga was a drought-affected area, so he immediately established a canal system in the region, ruined the drought-affected areas, and made their greenery.

His name is also mentioned in Puranas and some Scriptures. He was not only a great warrior but also a good administrator. According to historians, he died in 329 BCE.