WBCS Preliminary Examination 2023 — General Studies · Question 123 of 200

Answer: (B) Chandragupta Mourya

Chandragupta Maurya (c. 321–297 BCE) overthrew the Nandas with Chanakya's help and built the first empire covering most of the subcontinent, which is why he is called India's first historical emperor. He defeated Seleucus Nikator about 305 BCE, after which Megasthenes came to Pataliputra and wrote the Indica; Greek writers call him Sandrocottus. Jain tradition says he abdicated and died at Shravanabelagola. Dhana Nanda was the last Nanda king whom he replaced; Bimbisara was the Haryanka king of Magadha in the Buddha's time, a king rather than an emperor; Bindusara was Chandragupta's son and Ashoka's father.