Ancient History (Part-I)

21. Which one of the following statements regarding Ashoka stone pillars is incorrect? [1997]

(a) These are highly polished
(b) These are monolithic
(c) The shaft of pillars is tapering in shape
(d) These are parts of architectural structures

Correct Answer: (d) These are parts of architectural structures

Solution:Ashoka stone pillars were meant to spread his Dhamma (not the part of architectural structure.)

22. Which one of the following scripts of ancient India was written from right to left? [1997]

(a) Brahmi
(b) Nandnagari
(c) Sharada
(d) Kharosthi

Correct Answer: (d) Kharosthi

Solution:Kharosthi script was deciphered by James Prinsep (1799-1840), using the bilingual coins of the Indo-Greek period. This in turn led to the reading of the Edicts of Ashoka, some of which, from the northwest of the Asian subcontinent, were written in the Kharosthi script.

23. The famous dialogue between Nachiketa and Yama is mentioned in the: [1997]

(a) Chandogyopanishad
(b) Mundakopanishad
(c) Kathopanishad
(d) Kenopanishad

Correct Answer: (c) Kathopanishad

Solution:Kathopanishad is the conversation between Nachiketa and Yamraj (God of death). Nachiketa was a seeker, and Yamraj was a Guru (knower of secrets).

24. Milindapanho is in the form of a dialogue between the king Menander and Buddhist monk: [1997]

(a) Nagasena
(b) Nagarjuna
(c) Nagabhatta
(d) Kumarlabhatta

Correct Answer: (a) Nagasena

Solution:Milindapanho wasn't written by one person. It is the collected dialogue between the Indo-Greek king Milinda (or Meander) and the Buddhist sage Nagasena.

25. Which one of the following edicts mentions the personal name of Ashoka? [1997]

(a) Kalsi
(b) Rummindei
(c) Special Kalinga Edict
(d) Maski

Correct Answer: (d) Maski

Solution:Maski, Gurjara, Nettur and Udegolam inscriptions mention the personal name of Ashoka.

26. The following map shows four of the sixteen Mahajanapadas that existed in ancient India: [1997]

(a) Matsya, Cedi, Kosala, Anga
(b) Surasena, Avanti, Vatsa, Magadha
(c) Matsya, Avanti, Vatsa, Anga
(d) Surasena, Cedi, Kosala, Magadha

Correct Answer: (c) Matsya, Avanti, Vatsa, Anga

Solution:Matsya Mahajanapada comprised the present-day Jaipur-Bharatapur-Alwar area of Rajasthan, Avanti was one of the most important ones and its core area comprises the present-day Ujjain district of Madhya Pradesh.

Vatsa with its capital at Kausambi was another powerful Mahajanapada, annexed by Magadha. Anga Mahajanapada was in Gangetic valley.

27. In the Mahayana Buddhism, the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara was also known as: [1997]

(a) Vajrapani
(b) Manjusri
(c) Padmapani
(d) Maitreya

Correct Answer: (c) Padmapani

Solution:Avalokiteśvara is a bodhisattva who embodies the compassion of all Buddhas. He is one of the more widely revered bodhisattvas in mainstream Mahayana Buddhism. In Sanskrit, Avalokitesvara is also referred to as Padmapâni ("Holder of the Lotus") or Lokeśvara ("Lord of the World").

28. The silver coins issued by the Guptas were called: [1997]

(a) Rupaka
(b) Karshapana
(c) Dinara
(d) Pana

Correct Answer: (a) Rupaka

Solution:Rupaka was a silver coin of Gupta period. 16 Rupaka was equal to 1 gold coin.

29. Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists: [1997]

List-I (Author)	List-II (Text)
A. Varahamihira	1. Prabandha Chintamani
B. Vishakhadatta	2. Mrichchha-Katikam
C. Sudraka	3. Brihat-Samhita
D. Bilhana	4. Devi-Chandraguptam
	5. Vikramankadeva-Charita

Codes:

	A	B	C	D
(a)	3	4	5	2
(b)	3	4	2	5
(c)	5	3	4	1
(d)	1	3	5	2

Correct Answer: (b)

Solution:Varahamihira also wrote Panchasiddhantika; Vishakhadatta also wrote Mudra Rakshasa.

30. Which one of the following was a corporation of merchants in ancient India? [1997]

(a) Chaturvedimangalam
(b) Parishad
(c) Ashtadikgaja
(d) Manigram

Correct Answer: (d) Manigram

Solution:A manigramam was a large, influential guild of South Indian merchants during the period of Western Chalukyan rulers in 10th 12th Century CE.