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Kavyanusasana " Kshatrapa was originally a Persian title adopted by the Greeks and continued in use among their successors; it originally denoted a provincial governor; but when the Greek kingdom broke up and their provincial chiefs became independent, it continued in use as a royal title.” (B. G. p. 22.)
Nahapāna was the first Kshatrapa ruler of Gujarāt and Saurāshtra. He belonged to Kharosthi family. It is not certain whether he made his conquests as a general of Kanishka or independently on his own account. His advance is traced as lying through East Rajputānā by Mandasor in West Mālwā along the easy route to Dohad as far as South Gujarāt. From South Gujarāt his power spread in two directions by sea to Kathiawad and from near Balsar by the Dang passes to Nasik and the Deccan, over almost the whole of which, judging from coins and inscriptions, he supplanted as overlord the great Āndhra kings of the Deccan" (B. G. p. 24 ). It is not known whether Nahapāna was also ruling over Ujjain and East Malwa and north Gujarāt also. According to Vincent Smith his capital might have been at Nasik, though there is no definite information on the point.
The Bactro - Greek legend on the three of the four coins found by Dr. Bhagawanalal Indraji is Rano Chhaharātas Nahapānasa, on the fourth is simply 'Rano Chhaharātas. The Nāgari legend on all the four is Rano Kshaharātas Nahapānasa!. On the obverse of the coins there is a bust, presumably, of Nahapāna. Of the four coins one gives the youthful image, one old, and the remaining two represent intervening stages of life." The dress of the bust is in the style of the
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