Maurya Empire (Part-II)

Total Questions: 45

11. Who was the First Britisher to study Ashoka's edicts ? [Chhattisgarh P.C.S. (Pre) 2003]

Correct Answer: (d) James Prinsep
Solution:The Brahmi script was first deciphered throught the letters inscribed on stone tablets. Sir James Prinsep was the first philologist who accomplished the task of deciphering the script of Ashokan inscription.

12. Who of the following had first decipher the edicts of Emperor Ashoka ? [U.P.S.C. (Pre) 2016]

Correct Answer: (b) James Prinsep
Solution:The Brahmi script was first deciphered throught the letters inscribed on stone tablets. Sir James Prinsep was the first philologist who accomplished the task of deciphering the script of Ashokan inscription.

13. Ashokan inscriptions in north-western part of the Maurya Empire near Peshawar were in : [Jharkhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2021]

Correct Answer: (d) Kharoshthi Script
Solution:Most of the inscription of Ashoka are written in Parkrit language and Brahmi script, only two inscription, Shahbajagarhi and Manshera's (Kyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan) are in Kharoshthi script.

14. Pre-Ashokan Brahmi script was found at : [U.P.P.C.S. (Spl) (Pre) 2008]

Correct Answer: (b) Anuradhapura
Solution:Pre-Ashokan Brahmi script was found at Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. Piparaha, Sohgoura, Mahasthan are the sites from where evidence of such script has been found.

15. Which one of the following scripts of ancient Indian was written from right to left ? [U.P.S.C. (Pre) 1997]

Correct Answer: (d) Kharoshti
Solution:Kharoshti script was written from right to left in ancient India. It is mainly the script of north-west India. The study of Kharosthi palaeography began with the decipherment of the script which was accomplished through the efforts of James Prinsep (1835 A.D.), Friedrich Grotefend (1836 A.D.), Lassen (1838 A.D.) etc.

16. Which one of the following scripts of ancient India was written from right to left ? [65ᵗʰ B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2019]

Correct Answer: (c) Kharosthi
Solution:The Kharosthi Script is an ancient script used by the ancient Gandhara culture of South Asia primarily in modern-day Afghanistan & Pakistan. Kharoshti was A cursive script written from right to left.

17. The name by which Ashoka is referred to in his inscriptions is : [U.P.S.C. (Pre) 1995]

Correct Answer: (d) Priyadarshi
Solution:The name by which Ashoka is referred in his inscription is "Priyadarshi", "Devanampiya Piyadasi" which means "Beloved of the Gods". He has also been stated as "Ashok Vardhan" in Puranas.

18. The name by which Ashoka is generally referred to in his inscriptions is [65ᵗʰ B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2019]

Correct Answer: (b) Priyadarshi
Solution:The name by which Ashoka is referred in his inscription is "Priyadarshi", "Devanampiya Piyadasi" which means "Beloved of the Gods". He has also been stated as "Ashok Vardhan" in Puranas.

19. Which of the kings has been mentioned as 'Piyadassi' and 'Devanampriya' in inscriptions ? [M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2015]

Correct Answer: (b) Ashoka
Solution:The name by which Ashoka is referred in his inscription is "Priyadarshi", "Devanampiya Piyadasi" which means "Beloved of the Gods". He has also been stated as "Ashok Vardhan" in Puranas.

20. Which one of the following statements regarding Ashokan stone pillars is incorrect ? [U.P.S.C. (Pre) 1997]

Correct Answer: (d) These are parts of architectural structures
Solution:Ashokan stone pillars are not part of architectural structures , but these are distinct sculptures. Rest three statements are correct in the reference of Ashokan stone pillars.