Which ancient kingdom did King Bimbisara rule?

King Bimbisara ruled the ancient kingdom of Magadha. He was a ruler of the Haryanka dynasty and is generally placed in the sixth or early fifth century BCE, though exact dates vary among historical traditions.

Bimbisara expanded Magadha by conquering Anga, an important kingdom to the east. This gave Magadha access to routes leading toward the Ganges delta and strengthened its economic and military position. His capital was Rajagriha, also called Girivraja.

Bimbisara is associated with both Buddhism and Jainism. Buddhist accounts portray him as a patron and contemporary of Gautama Buddha, while Jain sources identify him with Shrenika or Seniya and connect him with Mahavira. These traditions sometimes differ in their details.

The other options were also major ancient Indian kingdoms: Kosala, Vatsa, and Avanti. They were neighboring powers, not the kingdom Bimbisara ruled. His reign helped establish Magadha as the dominant political center that later produced the Nanda and Maurya empires.