How does the Patanjali Mahabhashya throw light on Mauryan history?

Difficult dating anything in ancient history(Indian and global); but Patanjali’s Mahabhashya was most probably written in the latter half of the Mauryan empire according to most accounts.

With the glory days of the Mauryan Golden age now fading; Patanjali’s Mahabhashya is a comprehensive commentary on earlier genius and the “father of linguistics and computation” Panini’s work.

With references to earlier Mauryan kings; the preceding Nanda dynasty; a siege of Ayodhya; building a city around Ayodhya(Sukosala) by Pusyamitra Sunga and an Ashvamedha sacrifice performed by him; it is believed to be from around the 2nd century B.C.

So; although it is largely a grammatical work; cultural references throw light on Mauryan history. Sunga was originally a Brahmin general who assassinated the last Emperor Brihadratha Maurya during an army review.

Similarly; Mudrarakshasa by Vishakhadutta, Kalidasa’s Malvikagnimitra; Kalhana’s Rajatarangini; Buddhist texts Dipavansa, Mahavansa, Asokavadan, Milinda-Panho and the Jatakas;
Jaina texts Brihatakathakosha of Harisena, Aradhana of Prabhachandra, Kathakosha of Shrichand, Parashishtaparvana of Hemachandra, Bhadrabahucharita of Ratnanandi, apart from Banabhatta’s Harshacharita and Megasthanes’s “Indika” apart from being literary; factual or theological works provide an account of the world’s largest land empire 2300 years ago.