Ajatashatru, an important king in the history of the Magadha kingdom during the time of the Buddha and Mahavira, was the son of which ruler?

Introduction / Context:
Ajatashatru is a key figure in early Indian history, particularly in the context of the Magadha kingdom during the sixth and fifth centuries BCE. He is remembered both for his expansionist policies and for his complex relationship with his father. This question asks you to identify his father from among several well known ancient rulers.

Given Data / Assumptions:

- The king in question is Ajatashatru of Magadha. - The time period overlaps with the lives of the Buddha and Mahavira. - The options include Brahmadatta, Bindusara, Bimbisara, and Chetaka. - We assume standard textbook chronology of Magadha rulers.

Concept / Approach:
Bimbisara is known as a major early ruler of Magadha from the Haryanka dynasty. Ajatashatru, his son, is frequently mentioned in Buddhist and Jain texts, sometimes with stories about conflict with his father. Bindusara, by contrast, is a later Mauryan ruler and the father of Ashoka. Brahmadatta and Chetaka are associated with other regions or stories. Matching the name Ajatashatru with the right Magadhan king is the key to solving the question quickly.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the sequence of early Magadha rulers: Bimbisara followed by Ajatashatru in the Haryanka line. Step 2: Remember that many sources mention Ajatashatru as the son of Bimbisara, who expanded Magadha and interacted with the Buddha. Step 3: Bindusara is recognised as the father of Ashoka, but he belongs to the much later Mauryan dynasty, not to the early Magadha of Ajatashatru. Step 4: Brahmadatta and Chetaka are associated with other polities and do not match the standard description of Ajatashatru’s father. Step 5: Therefore, the correct answer is Bimbisara.

Verification / Alternative check:
Historical summaries and religious texts consistently pair Bimbisara and Ajatashatru as father and son. Ajatashatru is often depicted as having seized power from his father and later regretting his actions. Chronologically, this fits the sixth fifth century BCE context of the Buddha’s lifetime. In contrast, Bindusara and Ashoka appear in the third century BCE Mauryan context. This chronological distance confirms that Ajatashatru could not be Bindusara’s son and supports Bimbisara as the only accurate option.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Brahmadatta: Generally used as a name for other kings in Buddhist stories and is not fixed as Ajatashatru’s father in the Magadha context.
Bindusara: Father of Ashoka in the Mauryan dynasty, separated by centuries from Ajatashatru’s time.
Chetaka: Known as a leader in the republican confederacy of the Licchavis and related to Jain traditions, not as a Magadhan monarch and father of Ajatashatru.

Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is to confuse Bindusara and Bimbisara because their names sound similar and both are associated with important dynasties. Another pitfall is not keeping track of the chronological order of the Haryanka and Mauryan dynasties. Remembering the pair Bimbisara Ajatashatru for early Magadha and the pair Bindusara Ashoka for the Mauryas helps prevent this confusion.

Final Answer:
Ajatashatru was the son of Bimbisara.