Ushavadata


Ushavadata, also known as Rishabhadatta, was a viceroy and son-in-law of the Western Kshatrapa ruler Nahapana, who ruled in western India.

Name

Ushavadata's name is attested in his inscriptions as, which is derived from the Saka name *R̥śvadāta, meaning "rightly created".

Inscriptions

Much of the information about Ushavadata comes from his Nashik and Karle inscriptions. The Nashik inscription contains a eulogy of Ushavadata in Sanskrit, and then records the donation of a cave to Buddhists in a Middle Indo-Aryan language. The Karle inscription contains a similar eulogy, but in the Middle Indo-Aryan language.

Early life

Ushavadata was the son of one Dinika. He identifies as a Shaka in his Nashik inscription:
He believed in Brahmanism, and married Nahapana's daughter Dakshamitra.

Charity

Both of Ushavadata's inscriptions mention the following of his charitable acts:
The Nashik inscription records more such acts, stating that Ushavadata exhibited very pious behaviour at the Trirashmi hills, where the Nashik caves are located:
  • Donated four-roomed rest houses in Bharukachchha, Dashapura, Govardhana, and Shurparaka
  • Commissioned gardens, tanks, and wells
  • Established free crossings at several rivers, including Iba, Parada, Damana, Tapi, Karabena, Dahanuka, and Nava
  • Established public water stations on both the banks of these rivers
  • Donated 32,000 coconut tree stems at Nanamgola village to the associations of charakas at Pimditakavada, Govardhana, Suvarnamukha, and Shurparaka
  • Purchased a field from a Brahmana family, and donated it to Buddhists along with a rock-cut cave.

    Military career

Ushavadatta campaigned in the north under the orders of Nahapana to rescue the Uttamabhadras, who had been attacked by the Malayas. He also extended the realm by defeating other enemies.
The Satavahana king Gautamiputra Satakarni appears to have defeated Rishabhadatta. An inscription discovered in Nashik, dated to the 18th year of Gautamiputra's reign, states that he donated a piece of land to Buddhist monks; this land was earlier in the possession of Ushavadata.