Maurya Empire Archives

21. Which one of the following Ashokan Minor Rock Edicts, contains the per

Which one of the following Ashokan Minor Rock Edicts, contains the personal name of the king – Ashoka ?

Maski

Bahapur

Bairat

Sahasram

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UPSC NDA-2 – 2023

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Most Ashokan edicts refer to the king as “Devanampiya Piyadasi” (Beloved of the Gods, of Pleasing Appearance). His personal name “Ashoka” is found in only a few of the Minor Rock Edicts. Among the options provided, the Maski Minor Rock Edict is famous for being one of the edicts where Ashoka is referred to by his personal name, “Asoka”. Other edicts containing the name “Asoka” include Gurjara, Nettur, and Udegolam.

The Maski edict is significant because it helped confirm the identification of “Devanampiya Piyadasi” mentioned in numerous other edicts with Emperor Ashoka.

The Bairat (or Bhabru) edict is known for Ashoka’s declaration of faith in the Buddha, Dhamma, and Sangha. Bahapur is the location of an Ashokan inscription in Delhi. Sahasram (Sasaram) is also a location of a Minor Rock Edict, but it refers to the king as “Devanampiya”.

22. Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the code

Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the code given below the Lists :

List-I (Mahamatta)	List-II (Function)
A. Anta-mahamatta	1. Women’s welfare
B. Ithijhakha-mahamatta	2. Spread of Dhamma
C. Dhamma-mahamatta	3. Associated with city administration
D. Nagalaviyohalaka-mahamatta	4. In-charge of frontier areas

Code :

A-3, B-2, C-1, D-4

A-3, B-1, C-2, D-4

A-4, B-1, C-2, D-3

A-4, B-2, C-1, D-3

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The correct option is C: A-4, B-1, C-2, D-3.

During the Mauryan Empire, particularly under Emperor Ashoka, various officials known as Mahamattas were appointed to oversee different aspects of administration and implement the emperor’s policies. The question asks to match specific types of Mahamattas with their functions:
– **Anta-mahamatta:** Anta means end or border. These officials were in charge of the frontier areas of the empire. (Match A with 4)
– **Ithijhakha-mahamatta:** Also known as Stri-adhyaksha Mahamatta, these officials were responsible for supervising and promoting the welfare of women. (Match B with 1)
– **Dhamma-mahamatta:** These officials were specially appointed by Ashoka to propagate Dhamma, ensure its observance, and look after the welfare of different religious and social groups. (Match C with 2)
– **Nagalaviyohalaka-mahamatta:** These officials were judicial officers appointed in the cities (Nagara) to administer justice. (Match D with 3)

Ashoka appointed Dhamma-mahamattas in the 14th year of his reign. Their role was crucial in implementing Ashoka’s policy of Dhamma, which emphasized social responsibility, tolerance, and welfare. Other types of officials existed in the Mauryan administration, but these specific Mahamattas played distinct roles as indicated in Ashokan inscriptions.

23. Ashoka’s connection with Buddhism is evident from which one of the fol

Ashoka’s connection with Buddhism is evident from which one of the following edicts ?

Major Rock Edict 13

Rock Edict 6

Minor Rock Edict 1

Pillar Edict 4

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UPSC NDA-2 – 2017

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The correct answer is C.

In Minor Rock Edict 1, Ashoka explicitly states that he became a lay follower of the Buddha (*Sakyaupasa*) about two and a half years ago and has been striving hard since then, indicating his personal connection with Buddhism.

Major Rock Edict 13 primarily deals with the Kalinga war and its aftermath, while Rock Edict 6 discusses his administrative measures for the welfare of his subjects. Pillar Edict 4 outlines the principles of Dhamma. While other edicts reflect Ashoka’s Buddhist principles (Dhamma), Minor Rock Edict 1 is the most direct statement about his personal adherence to Buddhism.

24. Which one of the following was not a part of the dhamma of King As

Which one of the following was not a part of the *dhamma* of King Ashoka ?

Honouring the king

Tolerance of religions other than one's own

Respecting Brahmanas

Promoting the welfare of his subjects

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UPSC NDA-1 – 2021

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The correct answer is A) Honouring the king.

Ashoka’s *dhamma* was a set of ethical and social principles aimed at promoting well-being, mutual respect, and religious tolerance among his subjects. While subjects were expected to obey the king’s laws, “honouring the king” was not a central tenet of the *dhamma* itself, which focused on righteous conduct towards family, neighbours, religious groups, and general societal welfare.

Key aspects of Ashoka’s *dhamma* included respect for elders, tolerance towards different religious sects (respecting Brahmanas, Shramanas, etc.), care for the elderly, kindness to slaves and servants, non-violence, and working for the welfare of subjects (promoting public works, medical facilities). These principles are well documented in his rock and pillar edicts. The focus was on virtuous behaviour and social harmony rather than a cult of the monarch.

25. Consider the following statements about Ashokan rock edicts : 1. Ma

Consider the following statements about Ashokan rock edicts :

1. Major Rock Edict XIII records Ashoka’s remorse at the sufferings caused by his Kalinga campaign.
2. Major Rock Edict X records Ashoka’s visit to Lumbini.
3. Major Rock Edict XII refers to Dhamma Mahamattas as a new category of officers instituted by Ashoka.
4. Major Rock Edict XII speaks about showing tolerance towards all sects.

Which of the statements given above are correct ?

1 and 4 only

2 and 3

3 and 4 only

1, 3 and 4

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UPSC NDA-1 – 2015

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The correct answer is A) 1 and 4 only. Statements 1 and 4 correctly describe the content of Major Rock Edicts XIII and XII respectively, while statements 2 and 3 are incorrect about the content of the specified edicts.

– Major Rock Edict XIII is famously known for Ashoka’s description of the Kalinga War and his remorse over the suffering it caused, leading to his conversion to Dhamma.
– Major Rock Edict XII is primarily an appeal for religious tolerance, mutual respect among different sects, and the importance of controlling one’s speech when criticizing others’ faiths.
– Major Rock Edict X expresses Ashoka’s desire for true glory, which he defines as winning the respect of people through the practice of Dhamma, rather than worldly conquest. It does not record his visit to Lumbini.
– Major Rock Edict V describes the appointment of Dhamma Mahamattas (officers of Dhamma) for the first time to spread the message of Dhamma and work for the welfare of various groups.

Ashoka’s edicts, inscribed on rocks and pillars throughout his empire, are primary sources for understanding his reign, his conversion to Buddhism, and his efforts to propagate Dhamma. They provide valuable insights into his policies, administration, and moral philosophy. The Lumbini visit and associated tax reduction are recorded in the Rummindei Pillar Inscription.

26. Who among the following was the first to decipher the Ashokan

Who among the following was the first to decipher the Ashokan inscriptions?

William Jones

John Marshall

James Prinsep

Alexander Cunningham

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UPSC Geoscientist – 2023

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James Prinsep was the first to decipher the Ashokan inscriptions.

James Prinsep, an English scholar and antiquary, deciphered the Brahmi script in 1837, which was used in most of the Ashokan inscriptions. This breakthrough was crucial for understanding the history and administration of the Mauryan Empire under Ashoka. William Jones founded the Asiatic Society of Bengal. John Marshall oversaw the excavations at Harappa and Mohenjo-daro. Alexander Cunningham is considered the father of Indian archaeology and conducted extensive surveys of historical sites, including many related to Ashoka.

The Ashokan inscriptions are primarily written in the Brahmi script and the Prakrit language, although some inscriptions were found in other scripts and languages (e.g., Kharosthi in the northwest, Greek and Aramaic). Prinsep’s decipherment relied on identifying repeated patterns and correlating them with known names and titles from classical texts.

27. James Prinsep is given credit for deciphering the script used in:

James Prinsep is given credit for deciphering the script used in:

Ashokan Brahmi

Kharoshthi

Tamil Brahmi

Harappan Seals

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UPSC Geoscientist – 2021

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James Prinsep, a British antiquarian and official of the East India Company, is credited with the breakthrough decipherment of the Brahmi script in 1837. This decipherment was crucial for understanding the Ashokan inscriptions found on pillars and rocks across the Indian subcontinent.

Prinsep’s decipherment of Brahmi unlocked a vast amount of historical information about the Mauryan Emperor Ashoka and his reign, providing insights into early Indian history, administration, and the spread of Buddhism.

Prinsep also made significant contributions to the decipherment of the Kharoshthi script, another ancient Indian script often found alongside Brahmi in northwestern India. The script used on Harappan seals (Indus script) remains largely undeciphered to this day. Tamil Brahmi is a southern variant of the Brahmi script.

28. Consider the following pairs of High Offices and concerned Departments

Consider the following pairs of High Offices and concerned Departments in the Mauryan Administration :

1. Samahartri : Chief Collector of Revenue
2. Dauvarika : Chief of Army
3. Akshapatala : Records-cum-Audit Officer
4. Samnidhatri : Treasurer

Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched ?

1 and 2 only

1, 3 and 4 only

3 and 4 only

1, 2, 3 and 4

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Let’s examine each pair:
1. Samahartri: Chief Collector of Revenue. This is correctly matched. The Samahartri was responsible for the collection of all revenues and supervising the various departments of finance.
2. Dauvarika: Chief of Army. This is incorrectly matched. The Dauvarika was the Chief Royal Gate-keeper, responsible for the security and protocol of the palace. The Chief of Army was known as Senapati.
3. Akshapatala: Records-cum-Audit Officer. This is correctly matched. The Akshapatala was in charge of maintaining royal accounts, records, and auditing them.
4. Samnidhatri: Treasurer. This is correctly matched. The Samnidhatri was the chief custodian of the state treasury and storehouses.
Therefore, pairs 1, 3, and 4 are correctly matched.

– Samahartri: Revenue collector.
– Dauvarika: Palace gate-keeper.
– Akshapatala: Accounts/Audit officer.
– Samnidhatri: Treasurer.
– Senapati: Chief of Army.

The Mauryan administration, as described in Kautilya’s Arthashastra, was highly centralized and bureaucratic. Various officers, known as ‘adhyakshas’ and other high officials, were appointed to manage different departments of the state, including revenue, treasury, army, justice, commerce, agriculture, etc. These designations reflect a sophisticated administrative system for its time.

29. The antarīya was a garment worn by people during the Mauryan period. I

The antarīya was a garment worn by people during the Mauryan period. It was :

an unstitched length of cloth draped around the body.

a sewn garment consisting of a sleeved tunic.

a head covering used exclusively by women.

made of strips sewn together tied at the waist with a cord.

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The antarīya was a common lower garment worn by both men and women in ancient India, including during the Mauryan period. It consisted of an unstitched piece of cloth, typically rectangular, that was draped around the waist and legs in various styles.

– Antarīya was an unstitched lower garment.
– It was draped around the body, not sewn like a tunic.
– It was worn by both men and women.

Other common garments of the period included the ‘uttariya’ (an unstitched upper garment or shawl draped over the shoulders) and sometimes a third piece called ‘kayabandha’ (a waist band or belt). Stitched garments like tunics became more common later, particularly under influences like the Indo-Greeks, Shakas, and Kushanas, although basic sewn garments existed earlier.

30. Who among the following Indian thinkers first spoke of food-for-work p

Who among the following Indian thinkers first spoke of food-for-work programmes to counteract the effects of famines ?

Kautilya

Aryabhatta

Chandragomin

Prabhakara

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The correct answer is A) Kautilya.

Kautilya, in his ancient Indian treatise on statecraft, economic policy, and military strategy called the Arthashastra, discusses various measures a ruler should take during times of famine. These measures include state distribution of grains, provision of food from the ruler’s own stores, and also providing work (such as building forts or roads) to people in exchange for food or subsistence, which is an early form of the ‘food-for-work’ concept.

The Arthashastra is believed to have been written around the 4th century BCE. Aryabhatta was a renowned mathematician and astronomer (5th-6th century CE). Chandragomin was a Buddhist scholar and grammarian (likely 7th century CE). Prabhakara was a philosopher of the Mimamsa school (7th century CE). None of the latter three are primarily known for contributions to economic or administrative policies related to famine relief as extensively as Kautilya.