The correct answer is: B) Pulakeshin II
Pulakeshin II was the Chalukya king who defeated Harshavardhana on the banks of the Narmada in 612 CE. He was the son of Vikramaditya I and the grandson of Pulakeshin I. Pulakeshin II was a great warrior and a skilled administrator. He expanded the Chalukya kingdom to its greatest extent. He was also a patron of the arts and literature.
Pulakeshin II was born in 590 CE. He ascended the throne in 609 CE after the death of his father, Vikramaditya I. Pulakeshin II’s reign was marked by a series of wars against the neighboring kingdoms. He defeated the Pallavas, the Pandyas, and the Cholas. He also defeated the Gupta king, Harshavardhana, on the banks of the Narmada in 612 CE.
Pulakeshin II was a great warrior and a skilled administrator. He expanded the Chalukya kingdom to its greatest extent. He was also a patron of the arts and literature. He died in 642 CE.
The other options are incorrect:
- A) Pulakeshin I was the founder of the Chalukya dynasty. He ruled from 543 to 566 CE.
- C) Vikramaditya I was the father of Pulakeshin II. He ruled from 566 to 609 CE.
- D) Kirtivarman I was the son of Pulakeshin II. He ruled from 642 to 648 CE.