| Ushvadata | |
| Native Name Lang: | उश्वदता |
| Birth Date: | 2nd century? |
| Death Date: | 2nd century? |
| Birth Place: | Western Satrap kingdom |
| Allegiance: | Western Satraps |
| Serviceyears: | 2nd century |
| Commands: | Viceroy of southern Saka territories including Nasik, Karle & Junnar.[1] [2] |
| Battles: | Saka-Malava War, Saka-Satavahana Wars |
| Spouse: | Dakshamitra |
| Relations: |
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Ushavadata (Brahmi:,), also known as Rishabhadatta, was a viceroy and son-in-law of the Western Kshatrapa ruler Nahapana, who ruled in western India.
Ushavadata's name is attested in his inscriptions as, which is derived from the Saka name *R̥śvadāta, meaning "rightly created".[3]
Much of the information about Ushavadata comes from his Nashik and Karle inscriptions. The Nashik inscription contains an 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.
Ushavadata was the son of one Dinika. He identifies as a Shaka (IAST: Śaka) in his Nashik inscription:
He believed in Brahmanism, and married Nahapana's daughter Dakshamitra.
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:
| state = align=center colspan=2 style="background:#D3D3D3; font-size: 100%;" | Nasik Pandavleni Caves, cave No.10 | |||||
| Front037 Cave 10, Verandah (33125843084).jpg | Veranda038 Cave 10, Interior (33928438936).jpg | Interior039 Cave 10, Chaitya and Umbrellas (33928437976).jpg | Chaitya and Umbrellas040 Cave 10, Inscription (33928437016).jpg | Inscription by Ushavadata's wife, Dakshamitra. |
Ushavadatta campaigned in the north under the orders of Nahapana to rescue the Uttamabhadras, who had been attacked by the Malayas (identified with the Malavas). He also extended the realm by defeating other enemies.[4]
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.