Pataliputra (Pāṭaliputta) was the capital of several Indian dynasties, initially built under King Ajātasattu (Ajatashatru) of Magadha. The king entrusted Vassakāra and Sunidha, two Brahmin ministers, with its construction as a strategic base for his campaign against the Vajjī Confederacy.
In the Pali Canon, the city is more frequently referred to as Pāṭaligāma (41 mentions) rather than Pāṭaliputta (3 mentions). Today, the site is known as Patna, the capital of Bihar state.
Inscriptions from Bharhut Stupa
The Bharhut Stupa, located in Satna District, Madhya Pradesh, features donations from patrons of Pataliputra. Dating back to around 200 BCE (350 BE), six inscriptions have been found, two of which are presented here:
Inscription 1 (Catalog No. A13)
Script: Brāhmī
Language: Prakrit
Text:
Line 1: Pāṭaliputasa Mahidasenasa dānaṃ
Translation:
"The gift of Mahidasena from Pataliputra."
Inscription 2 (Catalog No. A14)
Script: Brāhmī
Language: Prakrit
Text:
Line 1: Yāniyā dānaṃ
Line 2: Pāṭaliputasa Nāgasenāya Koḍi-
Translation:
"This gift is from the lay devotee Nāgasena of the Koḍiyani clan, from Pataliputra."
Note: This inscription is unusual because the first line (which would normally appear at the bottom) is placed at the top instead.
Current Location
These inscriptions are now housed in the Indian Museum, Kolkata (Calcutta), West Bengal, India.
Significance
These records highlight the religious patronage from Pataliputra’s elite, demonstrating the city’s influence in early Buddhist art and architecture. The Bharhut Stupa itself is a key monument of Śunga Dynasty art, blending narrative reliefs with donor inscriptions.
