The Mauryan Empire

1.Literary Sources

• Why the Mauryan Period Opens a New EraImportance 2/5
  Why is the rise of the Mauryan Empire treated as a turning point in Indian history? Understand the two reasons linked to political unity and to the writing of history. Also be clear about the three kinds of source available for this period.
• Kautilya's ArthasastraImportance 5/5UPSC 2022
  Remember who wrote the Arthasastra, the other names of its author, the label "Indian Machiavelli", and who discovered the manuscript and about when (around 1905). Also remember the number of books, chapters and topics, and the three parts of its content. Why is it so valuable for studying the Mauryas?
• Visakadatta's MudrarakshasaImportance 3/5UPSC 2002
  What kind of work is the Mudrarakshasa, and in which language? It was written in a later age than the one it describes, so be clear about which period each refers to. Know the story it tells about the Nandas and what it shows of society.
• Megasthenes' IndicaImportance 4/5UPSC 1999
  Who was Megasthenes, and at whose court did he serve? Know what survives of Indica and what it describes (the capital's administration, the army and social life). Why do historians treat some of his information with caution?
• Other Literary Sources (Puranas, Jatakas, Dipavamsa and Mahavamsa)Importance 3/5
  Learn what the Puranas and the Jatakas add to our knowledge of the Mauryas. Which Ceylonese chronicles are used, and what do they tell about Asoka and Buddhism in Sri Lanka? Their account of how Asoka came to the throne is covered under his early career.

2.Archaeological Sources

• Decipherment, Language and Script of Asoka's EdictsImportance 5/5UPSC 1995, 2016
  Who first deciphered Asoka's inscriptions, and in which year? Be clear about the difference between the language of the edicts and the script used to write them. Is the language Pali or Prakrit, and which other languages appear in the north-west? Which script was used generally, and in which part of the country was Kharosthi used?
• Kinds of Asokan Edicts and What They Record (Rock Edict XIII, Pillar Edict VII)Importance 5/5UPSC 5 Years
  Know the kinds of edicts: the fourteen Major Rock Edicts, the Kalinga Edicts, the major pillar edicts, and the minor rock and pillar edicts. Where were the Kalinga Edicts and the major pillar edicts placed, and what message do the Kalinga Edicts give to the people of Kalinga? Remember what Rock Edict XIII and Pillar Edict VII deal with, and the general subjects of the edicts.

3.Political History of the Mauryas

• Overthrow of the Nandas and Chandragupta's Early ConquestsImportance 4/5
  Be clear about who the last Nanda ruler was and who helped Chandragupta overthrow him. Remember the other names of this adviser. Learn the order of Chandragupta's early conquests and the region covered by each.
• War and Treaty with Seleucus Nicator (305 B.C.)Importance 4/5
  Who was Seleucus Nicator, and what was the result of Chandragupta's war with him in 305 B.C.? Remember the territories handed over, the marriage tie and the gift of elephants. Which Greek envoy came to the Mauryan court after the treaty?
• Chandragupta's Last YearsImportance 4/5
  Which faith did Chandragupta turn to late in life? Remember who took the throne after him, where he went with a group of monks, who led them, and how his life ended.
• Bindusara's Conquests and the Southward Extent of the EmpireImportance 3/5
  What did the Greeks call Bindusara, and what does the name mean? Learn the evidence for his conquests in the south: Taranatha's account and Sangam literature. Up to which region did the empire reach under him?
• Bindusara's Ties with Antiochus I and Support for the AjivikasImportance 3/5
  Who was Deimachus, and what did Bindusara ask Antiochus I to send? What was not sent, and why? Also know which religious sect Bindusara supported, and which post he gave his son Asoka.
• Asoka's Early Career and the Disputed SuccessionImportance 3/5
  Which posts did Asoka hold, and which revolt did he put down, before he became king? Why does the four-year gap between his accession and coronation suggest a struggle? Compare what the Ceylonese chronicles, Taranatha and Asoka's own edict say about his brothers.
• The Kalinga War (261 B.C.) and Its EffectsImportance 5/5UPSC 2000
  When was the Kalinga War fought, and which edict gives Asoka's own account of its effects? In that account, be clear about the separate figures for people deported, people killed and others who died. Understand what the war did to Asoka's own outlook and policy. Is anything known about its cause and course?
• Extent of Asoka's Empire and the Border KingdomsImportance 4/5
  Which four southern kingdoms are named in Asoka's inscriptions as border states, and what does this say about the empire's extent? Also know the evidence for Kashmir (the Rajatarangini), Nepal and the north-western frontier.
• Asoka's Conversion to BuddhismImportance 4/5
  Which monk influenced Asoka? Note that different traditions name different monks. Learn the view that his conversion came in stages, and the two stages named (lay follower, then monk). What did he give up, and what did he organise afterwards?
• Asoka's Visits to Buddhist Holy PlacesImportance 3/5
  Which holy places did Asoka visit? Remember the Buddha's birthplace among them, and in which year of his reign he visited it, with the approximate date in B.C.
• Buddhist Mission to Sri LankaImportance 4/5
  Learn who led the Buddhist mission to Sri Lanka and what they planted there. Which chronicles record this mission?
• The Third Buddhist Council at PataliputraImportance 5/5
  Where was the Third Buddhist Council held, who presided over it, and roughly when in Asoka's reign was it held? Understand why Asoka called it.
• Nature of Asoka's Dhamma and Its Relation to BuddhismImportance 5/5
  What was Asoka's Dhamma meant to be? Understand why it was a wider idea than Buddhism, and where it overlapped with the Buddha's teaching. Was it only for Buddhists?
• Main Principles of Asoka's DhammaImportance 5/5UPSC 1998
  Learn the seven main features of Asoka's Dhamma as shown in his edicts. Give special attention to religious tolerance, the ban on animal sacrifice and conquest by Dhamma instead of war.
• Spreading the Dhamma (Dhamma Mahamatras and Dhammayatras)Importance 4/5
  Which officers did Asoka appoint to spread Dhamma, and what were their duties, including their work for prisoners? What were the Dhammayatras? Also know how the edicts helped carry his message to the people.
• Estimate of AsokaImportance 2/5
  Which historian said that Asoka's name "shines and shines almost alone, a star"? Understand why Asoka is ranked among the great rulers: his practical outlook, his care for the welfare of people, and his non-aggression after victory.
• Division of the Empire After AsokaImportance 2/5
  Into which two parts was the empire divided after 232 B.C.? Learn who ruled each part. What happened to the western part, and who ruled the eastern part later?
• The Last Mauryan King and Pushyamitra SungaImportance 3/5UPSC 2003
  Remember the last Mauryan king, who ended his rule, and which dynasty followed.

4.Mauryan Administration

• Monarchy, Kautilya's View of Kingship and the MantriparishadImportance 4/5
  What happened to republics and oligarchies as the Mauryas rose? Explain how Kautilya supported monarchy and yet did not support royal absolutism. What was the Mantriparishad, and who were its members?
• The Amatyas and the Mauryan Civil ServiceImportance 3/5
  Who were the Amatyas, and what work did they do? Know which modern service they are compared to, and who described how they were selected.
• Revenue Department (Samharta)Importance 4/5
  Who headed the Revenue Department? Remember the main sources of revenue, the usual share of the produce taken as land revenue, and the main heads of state expenditure.
• The Mauryan ArmyImportance 3/5
  Who controlled the army, and how were soldiers paid? Learn the strength of each of the four wings according to Pliny, the two further wings, and who controlled each wing. What did Megasthenes say about the boards that ran the six wings?
• Department of Commerce and IndustryImportance 3/5UPSC 2026
  What did this department control? Remember its duties over prices, supply, weights and measures, customs duties and foreign trade.
• Judicial and Police DepartmentsImportance 3/5
  What were the courts like, and what was the chief justice called? Know the kinds of punishment, the police stations and the jails. What did Asoka do about unjust imprisonment and remission of sentences?
• Census Under the MauryasImportance 2/5
  Learn who counted people in villages and who did so in towns. What details were recorded, and how was the data checked?
• The Four Provinces and Their CapitalsImportance 4/5
  Into how many provinces was the empire divided, and what were their capitals? Be careful with the eastern province: Kalinga is a region, so be clear about what its seat of government was. Which home province was governed directly from Pataliputra? Remember who usually governed the provinces, and what their duties were.
• District Administration (Rajukas and Yuktas)Importance 4/5UPSC 2025
  Know who headed a district and who assisted him. Which modern officer is his post compared to?
• Village Administration (Gramani and Gopa)Importance 3/5
  Who was the head of a village, and who was his official superior? Be clear about the difference between the two posts, and how many villages a Gopa looked after.
• Municipal Administration of Pataliputra (Nagarika and the Six Committees)Importance 4/5
  Who was the Nagarika, and what was his chief duty? Megasthenes describes committees for the city. How many were there, how many members did each have, and what were their six areas of work? These are different from the military boards.

5.Mauryan Art and Architecture

• From Wood to Stone Under AsokaImportance 3/5
  Why have so few monuments from before Asoka survived? Understand the change in building material from his time. Which of his works have disappeared?
• Asokan PillarsImportance 5/5
  Why are the Asokan pillars regarded as the finest Mauryan art? Remember the places where they have been found and the animals on their tops. Which of the pillars carry inscriptions? What stone were they made of, and how was it finished?
• The Sarnath Lion Capital and India's State EmblemImportance 4/5UPSC 2014
  How is the lion capital at Sarnath designed? What was changed or added when it was adopted as India's state emblem? Know the motto and where it comes from.
• The Sanchi StupaImportance 4/5
  What happened to most of Asoka's stupas, and why? Know what material the Sanchi stupa was first made of, and what was done to it later.
• The Barabar Caves and the AjivikasImportance 4/5
  For whom were the Barabar caves made, and who gave them? Who gave the caves on the nearby Nagarjuni hill, and how was he related to Asoka? Remember what the caves were used for, how their inner walls were finished, and where the hills are located.

6.Causes for the Decline of the Mauryas

• Was Asoka Responsible for the Decline?Importance 4/5
  What are the two scholarly approaches to the decline? Understand the two charges against Asoka (that he angered the Brahmins, and that his non-violence weakened the army) and the reply to each.
• Other Causes of the Decline and the Rise of the SungasImportance 3/5
  Besides Asoka's policies, what other causes weakened the empire? Consider weak successors, the partition of the empire and any further causes. Who took advantage of this and founded which dynasty?

1. 1.

   Consider the following statements regarding Kautilya's Arthasastra:
   1. It is a work in Sanskrit written by a contemporary of Chandragupta Maurya.
   2. Its first part deals with civil and criminal law.
   Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

   1. A1 only
   2. B2 only
   3. CBoth 1 and 2
   4. DNeither 1 nor 2
2. 2.

   Consider the following statements regarding Megasthenes and his Indica:
   1. Megasthenes was the Greek ambassador at the court of Chandragupta Maurya.
   2. Indica has survived in its complete form.
   3. It gives details of the administration of Pataliputra and of the military organisation.
   How many of the statements given above are correct?

   1. AOnly one
   2. BOnly two
   3. CAll three
   4. DNone
3. 3.

   Besides the Brahmi script used generally, in which script were Asokan inscriptions found in north-western India?

   1. ADevanagari
   2. BGrantha
   3. CVatteluttu
   4. DKharosthi
4. 4.

   Consider the following statements regarding the edicts of Asoka:
   1. Rock Edict XIII gives details about his war with Kalinga.
   2. Pillar Edict VII deals with the Kalinga war.
   3. The two Kalinga Edicts are found in the territory newly conquered by him.
   Which of the statements given above are correct?

   1. A1 and 2 only
   2. B2 and 3 only
   3. C1 and 3 only
   4. D1, 2 and 3
5. 5.

   Consider the following statements regarding Asoka's Kalinga war:
   1. It was fought in 261 B.C.
   2. Asoka himself described its effects in Rock Edict XIII.
   3. Kalinga was annexed to the Mauryan Empire after the war.
   4. Asoka's own account gives full details of the cause and course of the war.
   How many of the statements given above are correct?

   1. AOnly one
   2. BOnly two
   3. COnly three
   4. DAll four
6. 6.

   Consider the following pairs:

   Name	Identification
   1. Dhanananda	Last ruler of the Nanda dynasty, from whom Chandragupta captured Pataliputra
   2. Taranatha	Tibetan monk who states that Bindusara conquered 16 states
   3. Deimachus	Greek ambassador sent to the court of Chandragupta Maurya

   Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

   1. A1 only
   2. B2 and 3 only
   3. C1 and 3 only
   4. D1 and 2 only
7. 7.

   Consider the following statements:
   Statement-I: Asoka's Dhamma was not the same as Buddhism.
   Statement-II: Asoka treated Dhamma as a general code of conduct, while Buddhism remained his personal belief.
   Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

   1. ABoth Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
   2. BBoth Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
   3. CStatement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect
   4. DStatement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct
8. 8.

   Match List I with List II:

   List I (Official)	List II (Role)
   A. Samharta	1. Head of village administration
   B. Senapati	2. City superintendent
   C. Nagarika	3. Chief of the Revenue Department
   D. Gramani	4. Controller of the army

   Select the correct answer using the code given below:

   1. AA-3, B-4, C-1, D-2
   2. BA-3, B-4, C-2, D-1
   3. CA-4, B-3, C-2, D-1
   4. DA-3, B-1, C-2, D-4
9. 9.

   Consider the following statements regarding the central government under the Mauryas:
   1. Kautilya supported monarchy and also stood for royal absolutism.
   2. The Mantriparishad consisted of the Purohita, Mahamantri, Senapati and Yuvaraja.
   Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

   1. A1 only
   2. B2 only
   3. CBoth 1 and 2
   4. DNeither 1 nor 2
10. 10.

    In the Mauryan revenue system, land revenue was normally fixed at which share of the produce?

    1. AOne fourth
    2. BOne third
    3. COne eighth
    4. DOne sixth
11. 11.

    According to Megasthenes, the administration of Pataliputra was looked after by which one of the following?

    1. AFive committees of six members each
    2. BSix committees of three members each
    3. CSix committees of five members each
    4. DFour committees of five members each
12. 12.

    Consider the following statements regarding the Asokan pillars:
    1. Their tops were crowned with figures of animals like the lion, elephant and bull.
    2. The Sarnath pillar with four lions standing back to back is regarded as the most magnificent.
    3. The Government of India adopted the Sarnath capital as its state emblem without any modification.
    Which of the statements given above are correct?

    1. A1 and 2 only
    2. B2 and 3 only
    3. C1 and 3 only
    4. D1, 2 and 3
13. 13.

    Consider the following statements regarding Asoka's Dhamma:
    1. It prohibited animal sacrifices and avoided expensive and meaningless ceremonies.
    2. It stood for tolerance among all the religious sects.
    3. It was a code of conduct meant to be practised only by Buddhists.
    How many of the statements given above are correct?

    1. AOnly one
    2. BOnly two
    3. CAll three
    4. DNone
14. 14.

    Consider the following statements regarding the decline of the Mauryan Empire:
    1. Asoka took action against the Brahmins, who then brought about a revolution.
    2. Asoka's pacifist policy made him slacken his control over his empire.
    3. No scholarly approach attributes the decline to inadequate political and economic institutions.
    How many of the statements given above are correct?

    1. AOnly one
    2. BOnly two
    3. CAll three
    4. DNone
15. 15.

    Consider the following pairs:

    Item	Description
    1. Dharma Mahamatras	Special officers appointed by Asoka to speed up the progress of Dhamma
    2. Buddhist mission to Sri Lanka	Led by the monk Upagupta
    3. Sanchi stupa	Originally built with bricks and enlarged after the time of Asoka

    Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

    1. A1 and 2 only
    2. B2 and 3 only
    3. C1 and 3 only
    4. D1, 2 and 3

1. 1.

   UPSC 1999

   The following persons came to India at one time or another:
   I. Fa-Hien
   II. I-Tsing
   III. Megasthenes
   IV. Hieun-Tsang The correct chronological sequence of their visits is:

   1. AIII, I, II, IV
   2. BIII, I, IV, II
   3. CI, III, II, IV
   4. DI, III, IV, II
2. 2.

   UPSC 2003

   Consider the following statements:
   1. The last Mauryan ruler, Brihadratha was assassinated by his commander-in-chief, Pushyamitra Sunga.
   2. The last Sunga king, Devabhuti was assassinated by his Brahmana minister Vasudeva Kanva who usurped the throne.
   3. The last ruler of the Kanva dynasty was deposed by the Andhra’s.
   Which of these statements is/are correct?

   1. A1 and 2
   2. BOnly 2
   3. COnly 3
   4. D1, 2 and 3
3. 3.

   UPSC 2025

   Ashokan inscriptions suggest that the ‘Pradeshika’, ‘Rajuka’ and ‘Yukta’ were important officers at the

   1. Avillage-level administration
   2. Bdistrict-level administration
   3. Cprovincial administration
   4. Dlevel of the central administration
4. 4.

   UPSC 2022

   According to Kautilya's Arthashastra, which of the following are correct ?
   1. A person could be a slave as a result of a judicial punishment.
   2. If a female slave bore her master a son, she was legally free.
   3. If a son born to a female slave was fathered by her master, the son was entitled to the legal status of the master's son.
   Which of the statements given above are correct ?

   1. A1 and 2 only
   2. B2 and 3 only
   3. C1 and 3 only
   4. D1, 2 and 3
5. 5.

   UPSC 2022

   Consider the following pairs : Site of Ashoka's major rock edicts : Location in the State of
   1. Dhauli — Odisha
   2. Erragudi — Andhra Pradesh
   3. Jaugada — Madhya Pradesh
   4. Kalsi — Karnataka
   How many pairs given above are correctly matched ?

   1. AOnly one pair
   2. BOnly two pairs
   3. COnly three pairs
   4. DAll four pairs
6. 6.

   UPSC 2020

   Who among the following rulers advised his subjects through this inscription ? “Whosoever praises his religious sect or blames other sects out of excessive devotion to his own sect, with the view of glorifying his own sect, he rather injures his own sect very severely.”

   1. AAshoka
   2. BSamudragupta
   3. CHarshavardhana
   4. DKrishnadeva Raya
7. 7.

   UPSC 2019

   In which of the following relief sculpture inscriptions is 'Ranyo Ashoka' (King Ashoka) mentioned along with the stone portrait of Ashoka?

   1. AKanganahalli
   2. BSanchi
   3. CShahbazgarhi
   4. DSohgaura
8. 8.

   UPSC 2016

   Who of the following had first deciphered the edicts of Emperor Ashoka?

   1. AGeorg Bühler
   2. BJames Prinsep
   3. CMax Müller
   4. DWilliam Jones
9. 9.

   UPSC 2002

   The ancient Indian play Mudrarakshasa of Visakhadutt has its subject on

   1. Aa conflict between Gods and Demons of ancient Hindu lore
   2. Ba romantic story of an Aryan prince and a tribal woman
   3. Cthe story of the power struggle between two Aryan tribes
   4. Dthe court intrigues at the time of Chandragupta Maurya
10. 10.

    UPSC 2000

    Assertion (A): Ashoka annexed Kalinga to the Mauryan Empire. Reason (R): Kalinga controlled the land and sea routes to South India.

    1. ABoth A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
    2. BBoth A and R are true, but R is not a correct explanation of A
    3. CA is true, but R is false
    4. DA is false, but R is true
11. 11.

    UPSC 1998

    Assertion (A): According to Asoka’s edicts, social harmony among the people was more important than religious devotion. Reason (R): He spread ideas of equity instead of promotion of religion.

    1. ABoth A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
    2. BBoth A and R are true, but R is NOT a correct explanation of A
    3. CA is true, but R is false
    4. DA is false, but R is true
12. 12.

    UPSC 1998

    Which one of the following ancient Indian records is the earliest royal order to preserve food grains to be utilised during the crises in the country?

    1. ASohagaura Copper-plate
    2. BRumminidei pillar-edict of Asoka
    3. CPrayaga-Prasasti
    4. DMehrauli Pillar inscription of Chandra
13. 13.

    UPSC 1998

    The Asokan major rock edicts which tell us about the Sangam Kingdom include rock edicts

    1. AI and X
    2. BI and XI
    3. CII and XIII
    4. DII and XIV
14. 14.

    UPSC 1997

    Which one of the following edicts mentions the personal name of Asoka?

    1. AKalsi
    2. BRummindei
    3. CSpecial Kalinga Edict
    4. DMaski
15. 15.

    UPSC 1995

    The name by which Asoka is generally referred to in his inscriptions is

    1. AChakravarti
    2. BDharmadeva
    3. CDharmakirti
    4. DPriyadarshini
16. 16.

    UPSC 2026

    Consider the following statements :
    I. Pali texts contain the first definite references to coins, e.g., kahapana, nikkha, kamsa, and kakanika.
    II. The literary evidence from Pali texts is corroborated by archaeological evidence of punch-marked coins from many sites, most of them made of silver. The above statements have been associated with which of the following ?
    1. Emergence of urban life
    2. Transition to money economy
    Select the answer using the code given below :

    1. A1 only
    2. B2 only
    3. CBoth 1 and 2
    4. DNeither 1 nor 2
17. 17.

    UPSC 2014

    The national motto of India, ‘Satyameva Jayate’ inscribed below the Emblem of India is taken from

    1. AKatha Upanishad
    2. BChandogya Upanishad
    3. CAitareya Upanishad
    4. DMundaka Upanishad