Every free question on Mauryan Empire (History of India) from past WBCS Preliminary Examination and WBCS Main Examination papers, newest first, each with its answer and a short explanation. Free to read.
Answer: (B) Pataliputra
Pataliputra (modern Patna) was the Mauryan capital, described by Megasthenes in his Indica. Ujjain was a provincial seat, Amaravati was a Satavahana-era centre, and Kannauj rose to prominence under Harsha.
Answer: (A) Kautilya
The Arthashastra, a treatise on statecraft and administration, is attributed to Kautilya (Chanakya), minister of Chandragupta Maurya. Varahamihira and Aryabhata were Gupta-age astronomers, and Patanjali wrote the Mahabhashya and Yoga Sutras.
Answer: (A) Jainism
According to Jain tradition, Chandragupta Maurya became a Jain in his last years, followed Bhadrabahu to Shravanabelagola and died there by sallekhana. Buddhism is associated with his grandson Ashoka, and the Ajivikas with his son Bindusara.
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.
Answer: (C) Ashoka
Ashoka propounded Dhamma, a moral code of tolerance, non-violence and respect for elders, after the Kalinga war (c. 261 BC), and spread it through his rock and pillar edicts and Dhamma Mahamatras. Chandragupta Maurya, the founder of the dynasty, is said to have become a Jain and died at Shravanabelagola. Bindusara, who bore the title Amitraghata ('slayer of foes'), favoured the Ajivika sect. Since Ashoka is listed, 'None of the above' is wrong.
Answer: (C) Porus and Alexander
The Battle of the Hydaspes (the Jhelum) was fought in 326 BC between Alexander of Macedon and King Porus, whose kingdom lay between the Jhelum and the Chenab. Bimbisara and Ajatashatru were father and son, and Ajatashatru is said to have imprisoned his father to seize the Magadhan throne. Bimbisara lived about two centuries before Porus. Since (C) is correct, 'None of the above' is wrong.
Answer: (A) Chandra Gupta Maurya
Chandragupta Maurya founded the Maurya dynasty around 321 BC by overthrowing the Nandas with the help of Chanakya (Kautilya). Bimbisara belonged to the earlier Haryanka dynasty of Magadha. Kanishka was a Kushana king. Megasthenes was not a ruler at all but the Greek ambassador of Seleucus Nicator at Chandragupta's court.
Answer: (C) Megasthanes
Megasthenes, the ambassador of Seleucus Nicator to Chandragupta Maurya's court at Pataliputra, wrote the Indica, which survives only in quotations by later Greek writers. Fa-Hien visited India during the reign of Chandragupta II. Hiuen Tsang came during Harsha's reign and studied at Nalanda; his account is the Si-yu-ki. Ashvaghosha, author of the Buddhacharita, was a Buddhist scholar at Kanishka's court.
Answer: (C) Kautilya
The Arthashastra, a treatise on statecraft, economy and administration, is attributed to Kautilya (Chanakya or Vishnugupta), the minister of Chandragupta Maurya. Its manuscript was found and published in the early 20th century by R. Shamasastry. Chandragupta Maurya was Kautilya's patron, not the author. Bimbisara of Magadha lived about two centuries earlier, and since Kautilya is listed, 'None of the above' is wrong.
Answer: (C) Brihadratha
Brihadratha, the last Maurya king, was killed around 185 BC by his commander-in-chief Pushyamitra Shunga, who founded the Shunga dynasty. Bimbisara and Ajatashatru were earlier Haryanka kings of Magadha. Kakavarna (Kalashoka) was a Shishunaga king in whose reign the Second Buddhist Council was held at Vaishali. None of these three was a Maurya.
Answer: (D) Ashoka
Ashoka calls himself Devanampiya Piyadasi ('beloved of the gods, of pleasing appearance') in his edicts; the name Ashoka itself appears in the Maski edict. The same title was also used by his contemporary, the Sri Lankan king Devanampiya Tissa. Kalashoka was the Shishunaga king in whose reign the Second Buddhist Council met at Vaishali. Bimbisara and Ajatashatru were Haryanka kings, and Ajatashatru patronised the First Buddhist Council.
Answer: (C) Megasthenes
Megasthenes wrote in his 'Indica' that all Indians are free and that there are no slaves in India, probably because slavery here was milder than in Greece (the Arthashastra, in fact, mentions several kinds of dasas). He also described seven 'castes' and the city administration of Pataliputra. Strabo and Ptolemy were later Greek geographers who never visited India; Strabo's 'Geography' preserves fragments of Megasthenes. Xuanzang was the Chinese pilgrim of Harsha's time.
Answer: (A) Antiochus II Theos
Ashoka's Major Rock Edict XIII (and also Rock Edict II) names five Hellenistic kings to whom he sent missions of dhamma: Antiochus II Theos of Syria ('Amtiyoka'), Ptolemy II Philadelphus of Egypt ('Turamaya'), Antigonus Gonatas of Macedonia ('Amtikini'), Magas of Cyrene ('Maka') and Alexander of Epirus ('Alikasudara'). So the other options are real names from the same edict, but of different kingdoms. Rock Edict XIII also describes the Kalinga war.
Answer: (B) Shudrak
"Mrichchhakatika" (The Little Clay Cart), a celebrated Sanskrit drama noted for its realistic depiction of society, is attributed to the playwright Shudraka.
Answer: (C) Megasthenes
Megasthenes was sent as ambassador by Seleucus Nicator to the court of Chandragupta Maurya at Pataliputra, and wrote the 'Indica'. Fa Hien (Faxian) came in the reign of Chandragupta II of the Gupta dynasty, and Hiuen Tsang (Xuanzang) came in the time of Harshavardhana. Strabo was a Greek geographer who never visited India but quoted Megasthenes. Deimachus came as ambassador to Bindusara's court.
Answer: (C) Chandragupta Maurya
Greek and Roman writers such as Justin, Strabo and Plutarch called Chandragupta Maurya 'Sandrocottus' (Sandrokottos); Sir William Jones first made this identification in 1793, which gave Indian chronology a fixed starting point. Bindusara was called 'Amitrochates' (from Amitraghata, slayer of foes) by the Greeks, and the last Nanda king Dhana Nanda appears as 'Agrammes' or 'Xandrames'.
Answer: (D) Mudrarakshasa.
'Mudrarakshasa' (The Signet Ring of Rakshasa) is a Sanskrit play by Vishakhadatta that describes the political machinations of Chanakya/Kautilya in overthrowing the Nanda dynasty and establishing Chandragupta Maurya's empire. Mrichhakatika is a different play by Shudraka.
