Mūlamadhyamakakārikā (MMK) is the work of Nagarjuna, an Indian monk, scholar and philosopher, originally written in Sanskrit. Compiled around the end of the 2nd Century, the MMK is considered a basic text in understanding the Madhyamaka school of Mahayana Buddhism, in which Nagarjuna
considered to be the founder.

According to a narration written by Kumarajiva in the 5th Century, Nagarjuna was born into a Brahmin caste family in Vidarbha (Maharashtra region), South India. From Xuanzang in the 7th Century, we learn that Nagarjuna later settled in South Kosala Country, Central India, under the protection of King Satavaha.

According to experts, the name in question is King Yajna Sri Satakarni of the Sātavāhana dynasty who ruled between the 1st century BC to the 2nd century AD in the Deccan Plain, Central India. In addition, Xuanzang also brought up the story of the meeting between Nagarjuna and Aryadeva, which started with Aryadeva's determination to argue with Nagarjuna but ended up becoming Nagarjuna's main disciple.