AI says I remembered the name wrong--I did--there are beautiful movies by Tewary--

AI Overview

The evil Magadha king you're likely thinking of is Dhana Nanda, the last ruler of the Nanda Dynasty, who was known for his cruelty, harsh taxation, and unpopular policies, leading to his downfall and overthrow by Chandragupta Maurya. While not historically called Devananda, this ruler was contemporary with Alexander the Great and was known for his oppressive rule. Here's a breakdown of why Dhana Nanda is the likely figure:

"Evil" and Unpopular:

Historical accounts consistently portray Dhana Nanda as a cruel king who burdened his people with severe taxes and mismanaged the kingdom's finances.

Magadha King:

He was the last ruler of the Nanda Dynasty, which governed the Magadha region of ancient India. Contemporary of Alexander: Dhana Nanda ruled during the time of Alexander the Great's campaigns in the northwest part of India. Overthrown by Chandragupta Maurya: His unpopularity and harsh rule made him an easy target for Chandragupta Maurya and his mentor Chanakya, who overthrew the Nanda Dynasty to establish the Maurya Empire. A Note on "Devananda": The name "Devananda" might be a misremembered or confused name. There is a figure named Devadatta, a historical figure who was a Buddhist monk, but he is known for being a divisive figure in Buddhism, not for ruling Magadha.