Ushavadata
Ushavadata was a 2nd-century Shaka (Saka) noble who served as the viceroy of western Indian territories under the Western Satraps. He was Nahapana’s son-in-law, having married Nahapana’s daughter Dakshamitra, and he was the son of a man named Dinika. His name, written as Uṣavadāta in the inscriptions, is derived from a Saka word meaning “rightly created.” He governed the southern Saka lands, including Nasik (Nashik), Karle, and Junnar, and is known from his inscriptions at Nashik and Karle.
Ushavadata is depicted as a charitable and pious figure. The Nashik inscription praises him and notes that he donated a cave to Buddhist monks at the Trirashmi hills near the Nashik caves. A related Karle inscription offers a similar tribute. These inscriptions also reveal his allegiance to Brahmanism and his family ties to Nahapana.
In addition to his generosity, Ushavadata led northern campaigns under Nahapana’s orders, aiming to rescue the Uttamabhadras who were attacked by the Malavas, and he is credited with expanding his realm by defeating enemies.
His downfall appears in later records: Gautamiputra Satakarni, the Satavahana king, seems to have defeated Rishabhadatta (Ushavadata). An inscription from Nashik, dated to the 18th year of Gautamiputra’s reign, notes that Gautamiputra donated land to Buddhist monks that had previously been held by Ushavadata.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 09:55 (CET).