Gupta and Post-Gupta Period Questions and Answers – Page 3

Harishena was Samudragupta’s court poet and minister and composed the Prayag Prashasti; he was not one of the figures conventionally listed among Chandragupta II’s Navaratnas. Kalidasa, Dhanvantari and Varahamihira appear in the conventional Navaratna list, although that list itself belongs largely to later tradition.

After defeating the Western Kshatrapas or Sakas, Chandragupta II is associated with the title Shakari, meaning enemy or destroyer of the Sakas. Kaviraja is associated with Samudragupta, Mahendraditya with Kumaragupta I, and Kramaditya with Skandagupta.

The Chinese Buddhist pilgrim Fa-hien travelled in India approximately between 399 and 414 CE, during the reign of Chandragupta II. Xuanzang visited during Harsha’s reign, Yijing travelled in the seventh century, and Song Yun visited north-western regions in the sixth century.

Chandragupta II is most famously associated with the title Vikramaditya, a title that later became central to legends of an ideal king. Mahendraditya is linked with Kumaragupta I, Kramaditya with Skandagupta, and Kaviraja with Samudragupta.

Correct answer: Ashvamedha; Vishnu. Samudragupta celebrated sovereignty through the Ashvamedha sacrifice and issued commemorative coins; his records and Garuda symbolism show his devotion to Vishnu. This makes the selected option factually and chronologically appropriate. The alternative sacrifice-and-deity pairs are not supported by Samudragupta’s inscriptional and numismatic evidence. Reading the exact wording and matching it with the relevant source prevents shifted-field errors.

Harishena, Samudragupta’s court poet and high official, composed the Sanskrit Prayag Prashasti engraved on the Ashokan pillar at Prayagraj. Ravikirti composed the Aihole inscription, Banabhatta wrote Harshacharita, and Vatsabhatti is associated with the Mandsaur inscription.

Correct answer: Early History of India. Smith famously described Samudragupta as the Napoleon of India in his Early History of India, drawing attention to the ruler’s extensive campaigns. Indica is associated with Megasthenes, Rajatarangini with Kalhana, and Si-yu-ki with Xuanzang.

Correct answer: Nine and twelve. The Prayag Prashasti lists nine rulers of Aryavarta who were uprooted and twelve rulers of Dakshinapatha who were defeated and then reinstated under different terms. This makes the selected option factually and chronologically appropriate. Twelve and nine reverses the order, while the other numerical pairs do not match the Prashasti’s lists. Reading the exact wording and matching it with the relevant source prevents shifted-field errors.

Correct answer: Kumaradevi; Gupta Era. Chandragupta I married the Licchavi princess Kumaradevi, an alliance celebrated on coins, and the Gupta Era beginning in 319–320 CE is conventionally connected with his accession. This makes the selected option factually and chronologically appropriate. Prabhavati belonged to a later Gupta–Vakataka alliance, and the Saka, Vikrama and Harsha eras do not fit this marriage and reign. Reading the exact wording and matching it with the relevant source prevents shifted-field errors.

Correct answer: Sri Gupta. Sri Gupta is regarded as the founder and earliest known ruler of the Gupta dynasty; Chandragupta I later transformed the family into an imperial power. Ghatotkacha succeeded Sri Gupta, while Chandragupta I and Samudragupta belonged to later generations.