Great Emperors of India – The 16 Chakravartins

In this article I will talk about the Great Emperors of India – The 16 Chakravartins as mentioned Mahabharata. The Mahabharata has a list of 16 monarchs who were known as Shodasa Rajika, and were chakravartin rulers.

A chakravartin is a sovereign who has conquered surrounding kingdoms and established dominance over an extensive region around their kingdom.

The 16 Great Emperors of India as per the Mahabharata are as below.

1. Marutta Avikshita (Sanskrit : मरुत्त आवीक्षित , Bengali : মরুত্ত আবীক্ষিত )
2. Suhotra Atithina (Sanskrit : सुहोत्र आतिथिन , Bengali : সুহোত্র আতিথিন )
3. Brihadratha Vira of Anga (Sanskrit : बृहद्रथ वीर , Bengali : বৃহদ্রথ বীর )
4. Shivi Aushinara (Sanskrit : शिवि औशीनर , Bengali : শিবি ঔশীনর )
5. Bharata Daushyanti (Sanskrit : भरत दौष्यन्ति , Bengali : ভরত দৌষ্যন্তি )
6. Rama (Sanskrit : राम , Bengali : রাম )
7. Bhagiratha (Sanskrit : भगीरथ , Bengali : ভগীরথ )
8. Dilipa Ailavila Khatvanga (Sanskrit : दीलिप ऐलविल खट्वङ्ग , Bengali : দীলিপ ঐলবিল খট্বঙ্গ )
9. Mandhatri Yauvanashva(Sanskrit : मान्धातृ यौवनाश्व , Bengali : মান্ধাতৃ যৌবনাশ্ব )
10. Yayati Nahusha (Sanskrit : ययाति नाहुष , Bengali : যয়াতি নাহুষ )
11. Ambarishha Nabhagi (Sanskrit : अम्बरीष नाभागि , Bengali : অম্বরীষ নাভাগি )
12. Shashabindu Chaitraratha (Sanskrit : शशबिंदु चैत्ररथ , Bengali : শশবিন্দু চৈত্ররথ )
13. Gaya Amurtarayasa (Sanskrit : गय आमूर्तरयस , Bengali : গয় আমূর্তরয়স )
14. Rantideva Sankriti (Sanskrit : रन्तिदेव साण्कृति , Bengali : রন্তিদেব সাণ্কৃতি )
15. Sagara Aikshvaku (Sanskrit : सगर ऐक्ष्वाकु , Bengali : সগর ঐক্ষ্বাকু )
16. Prithu Vainyu (Sanskrit : पृथु वैन्य , Bengali : পৃথু বৈন্য )

Reference/ Further Reading

Ancient Indian historical tradition by F.E. Pargiter

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