Bindusara, the second Mauryan Emperor, a descendant of Chandragupta and Durdhara, rose to power around 297 BCE. Bindusara, who was just 22 years old, inherited a sizable kingdom that included portions of what are now Northern, Central, and Eastern India, as well as Baluchistan and Afghanistan. Bindusara expanded this kingdom to include all southern India, including what is now known as Karnataka. He conquered 16 states under the Mauryan Empire, thus covering the entire Indian Peninsula, the land between the ‘Two Seas.’ Bindusara spared the friendly territories of Cholas, IIamcetcenni, Pandyas, and Cheras. Kalinga (present-day Orissa) was not part of the Mauryan Empire in the reign of Bindusara.

Bindusara maintained friendly relations with the Hellenistic empire. Bindusara adhered to the Ajivika sect, unlike his father Chandragupta, who eventually converted to Jainism. Pingalavatsa , the guru of Bindusara, was an Ajivika Brahmin. Queen Subhadrangi, also known as Queen Dharma or Aggamahesi, the wife of Bindusara, was an Ajivika Brahmin from Champa (present Bhagalpur district).
Bindusara died between 274 BCE – 270 BCE. He reigned for 25-28 years.