Kharavela's Invasion of Vidharbha

In the second year of his regin Kharavela despatched an army with cavalry and war elephants to invaded Vidarbha which at that time was ruled by Satavahana King Satakarni.

"Satakarni, with his father Simuka who had established a considerable empire in the Deccan and had taken the title of Dakshiņāpathapati (Lord of the Southern Territory), sought to expand his kingdom into northern India.

The Sunga Empire at the time held huge area north of the Narmada River, and its capital had shifted from Pataliputra to Vidisa in central India.

This is also reflected in the Greek king Antiacidas' actions, who addressed a letter to Vidisa rather than Pataliputta, as attested by an inscription on a pillar present at the site.

According to the inscription, in the second year of his reign, the King of Kalinga, whom modern Odisha believes is Kharavela, let loose his fourfold army towards the west, and while ignoring Satakarni, showed terror-stricken residents of the capital of Rishika territory Kanha-Benna.