What did early Buddhist and Jaina writers attribute Magadha's power to?

The policies of ambitious kings and ministers

During the period between the sixth and the fourth centuries BCE, Magadha emerged as the most dominant mahajanapada, situated in present-day Bihar. This rise in power can be attributed to various factors according to modern historians. Firstly, Magadha's fertile region facilitated productive agriculture. Additionally, the presence of iron mines in present-day Jharkhand provided essential resources for tools and weapons. The abundance of elephants in the local forests proved crucial for bolstering the army. Moreover, the Ganga River and its tributaries served as convenient and cost-effective means of communication.

Early Buddhist and Jaina writers, however, attributed Magadha's ascendancy to the policies pursued by ambitious kings such as Bimbisara, Ajatasattu, and Mahapadma Nanda, along with the support of their ministers, who played a vital role in implementing these policies.

Initially, the capital of Magadha was Rajagaha, known as the "house of the king" in Prakrit, situated among hills in present-day Rajgir, Bihar. Subsequently, in the fourth century BCE, the capital was relocated to Pataliputra, the present-day city of Patna. This strategic move enabled Pataliputra to command communication routes along the Ganga, further consolidating Magadha's influence and control in the region.