Mauryan & Gupta — Set 2
Indian History · मौर्य और गुप्त · Questions 11–20 of 100
Which Greek ambassador visited the court of Chandragupta Maurya?
Correct Answer: A. Megasthenes
• **Megasthenes** = Greek ambassador of **Seleucus Nicator**; stayed at Chandragupta Maurya's court in Pataliputra. • Wrote **'Indica'** (in Greek) — describes Pataliputra as a city 9 miles long, 1.5 miles wide with wooden palisades. • Megasthenes divided Indian society into **7 castes** — an inaccurate Greek classification, not the 4 Hindu varnas. • 💡 Deimachus = sent to Bindusara; Dionysius = sent to Bindusara by Ptolemy; Plutarch = Greek biographer (not ambassador) — Megasthenes visited Chandragupta's court.
The 'Eran Inscription' of Bhanugupta is historically significant for the first epigraphic evidence of what practice?
Correct Answer: D. Sati
• **Eran Inscription** (510 CE) = first **epigraphic (inscriptional) evidence of Sati** practice in India. • Records wife of general **Goparaja** immolating herself on his pyre after he died in battle against Huns. • Associated with **Bhanugupta**, a later Gupta ruler — key source for Gupta decline period history. • 💡 Dowry, polygamy, child marriage = no such first epigraphic proof here — Eran Inscription is specifically famous for first Sati evidence.
Which Mauryan pillar features four lions standing back to back?
Correct Answer: A. Sarnath
• **Sarnath Lion Capital** = four lions back-to-back on a circular abacus; adopted as **National Emblem of India** on 26 Jan 1950. • Abacus shows a wheel (Dhammachakra) flanked by a bull, horse, lion, and elephant. • Located where Buddha gave his **first sermon** (Dhammachakrapravartana) at Deer Park, Sarnath. • 💡 Lauriya Nandangarh = single lion capital; Rampurva = bull capital; Sanchi = no lion capital — four-lion back-to-back capital = Sarnath only.
Who was the court physician associated with the Gupta period?
Correct Answer: B. Dhanvantari
• **Dhanvantari** = one of the **Navratnas** of Chandragupta II's court; revered as god of Ayurveda. • Associated with **Ayurveda tradition**; **Dhanvantari Jayanti** is celebrated as National Ayurveda Day. • Other famous Navratnas: **Kalidasa** (poetry), **Varahamihira** (astronomy), **Amara Simha** (Amarakosha). • 💡 Charaka = Ayurveda physician (Charaka Samhita); Sushruta = surgery (Sushruta Samhita); Jivaka = Bimbisara's court physician — Dhanvantari is the Gupta-period Ayurvedic physician of Navratnas.
The term 'Vishti' in the Gupta period referred to:
Correct Answer: A. Forced labor
• **Vishti** = forced/unpaid labor (**begar**) extracted by state or landlords during **Gupta period**. • Mentioned in **Narada Smriti** and Gupta inscriptions; shows feudalization of Gupta economy. • Vishti reflects the decline of a monetized economy and rise of **land grants** (agrahara system) in Gupta era. • 💡 Military rank = different titles; Gold coins = Dinara; Land tax = Bhaga — Vishti specifically means forced labor/begar.
Which Mauryan ruler was also known as 'Amitraghata' (Slayer of Foes)?
Correct Answer: B. Bindusara
• **Bindusara** = son of Chandragupta Maurya; title **'Amitraghata'** = 'slayer of enemies'. • Greeks called him **'Amitrochates'**; he expanded Mauryan empire deep into South India. • Bindusara had contacts with Seleucid court — requested **Greek wine, figs, and a philosopher** (Antiochus sent wine and figs but said no philosopher could be sold). • 💡 Chandragupta Maurya = founder; Brihadratha = last Mauryan; Ashoka = Bindusara's son — Amitraghata is exclusively Bindusara's title.
Who authored the 'Brihat Samhita', an encyclopedic work on astronomy, botany, and natural history?
Correct Answer: C. Varahamihira
• **Varahamihira** = Gupta-era scholar; authored **Brihat Samhita** — encyclopedia covering astronomy, botany, architecture, meteorology. • Also wrote **Pancha Siddhantika** (5 astronomical treatises) and **Brihat Jataka** (astrology); part of **Chandragupta II's Navratnas**. • Predicted rainfall from planetary positions; Brihat Samhita mentions **earthquake prediction, gem testing, and town planning**. • 💡 Aryabhatta = zero/pi/Earth rotates; Brahmagupta = gravity concept; Bhaskara I = sine tables — Brihat Samhita encyclopedic work = Varahamihira.
Which Ashokan edict mentions the Kalinga War and Ashoka's remorse?
Correct Answer: C. Major Rock Edict XIII
• **Major Rock Edict XIII** = most personal edict; describes **Kalinga War** (261 BCE) — **150,000 deported, 100,000 killed**, many more died. • Ashoka expresses **grief and remorse**; vows to follow **Dhamma** instead of conquest by force (Digvijay → Dhammavijay). • This edict mentions only **two foreign kingdoms** where Ashoka's Dhamma was propagated: Antiochus II (Syria) and others. • 💡 Pillar Edict VII = summary of Dhamma; Rock Edict I = ban on animal slaughter; Rock Edict X = rejects glory — XIII alone has Kalinga remorse.
The paintings of Ajanta Caves primarily depict stories from:
Correct Answer: D. Jataka Tales
• **Ajanta Caves** = 30 rock-cut caves in Maharashtra; paintings primarily depict **Jataka Tales** (Buddha's past lives). • **Phase 1**: 2nd–1st century BCE (Satavahana); **Phase 2**: 5th–6th century CE (Vakataka/Gupta era) — most paintings from Phase 2. • Famous paintings: **Padmapani** (compassionate Bodhisattva) and **Vajrapani** (thunderbolt Bodhisattva) — both icons of Ajanta art. • 💡 Puranas = Hindu texts; Ramayana/Mahabharata = epics; Jataka Tales = Buddhist stories of Buddha's past lives — Ajanta = Jataka.
What was the main function of 'Rajukas' in Ashoka's administration?
Correct Answer: D. Justice and surveying
• **Rajukas** = Ashokan officers responsible for **justice and land surveying** in rural areas. • Ashoka granted them **independent judicial powers** (5th regnal year onwards) — could reward and punish without approval. • Rajukas worked alongside **Yuktas** (revenue collectors) and **Pradeshikas** (district heads) in Mauryan administration. • 💡 Foreign diplomacy = Duta; Military command = Senapati; Religious rituals = Purohita — Rajukas = rural justice + surveying.