In Mauryan period sources and Greek accounts, whom did the Greeks refer to as Amitraghata, meaning slayer of foes?

Introduction / Context:
Greek writers who came into contact with ancient India often rendered Indian names and titles into Greek forms. These Greek versions sometimes preserve valuable clues about how Indian rulers were known in their own times. Amitraghata or Amitrochates in Greek, meaning slayer of foes, is one such title. This question asks which Indian ruler was referred to by this epithet, connecting textual evidence with royal personalities of the Mauryan period.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The Greek epithet is Amitraghata or Amitrochates.
• It means slayer of foes.
• Options include Chandragupta Maurya, Bimbisara, Bindusara, and Vasudeva.

Concept / Approach:
Greek sources, such as the writings of classical historians, mention a Mauryan king they call Amitrochates. Scholars generally identify this ruler with Bindusara, son of Chandragupta Maurya and father of Ashoka. The title Amitraghata matches the Sanskrit phrase meaning destroyer of enemies. Bimbisara belonged to an earlier Magadhan dynasty, while Vasudeva is associated with later periods. Chandragupta has other Greek associations as Sandrokottos, not Amitrochates.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recognise that Sandrokottos is the Greek name for Chandragupta Maurya, so Amitrochates must refer to another ruler. Step 2: Recall that Bindusara was the immediate successor of Chandragupta and controlled a vast empire. Step 3: Note that Greek writers describe a king Amitrochates, whose name can be translated as Amitraghata, meaning slayer of foes. Step 4: Understand that historians match this description with Bindusara, based on chronology and title meaning. Step 5: Rule out Bimbisara, who lived in an earlier era, and Vasudeva, who belongs to later dynasties. Step 6: Conclude that Amitraghata refers to Bindusara.

Verification / Alternative check:
Standard histories of the Mauryan empire and Indo Greek contacts consistently identify Amitrochates with Bindusara. This identification is grounded in linguistic analysis and chronological alignment with known Mauryan rulers.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Chandragupta Maurya is recorded in Greek sources as Sandrokottos, not Amitrochates. Bimbisara is associated with the Haryanka dynasty long before the Mauryas, and Vasudeva does not fit the relevant time frame and context. Choosing any of these would ignore the specific linguistic match between Amitraghata and Bindusara.

Common Pitfalls:
Because Chandragupta is the most famous Mauryan name and also has a Greek equivalent, many learners pick him by default. Remembering that his Greek name is Sandrokottos, not Amitrochates, helps distinguish between the two.

Final Answer:
The Greeks referred to Bindusara as Amitraghata, the slayer of foes.