Mahajanapadas and Magadha Empire MCQ: The Sixteen Mahajanapadas & the Rise of Magadha

Attempt the quiz above first, then review every question with its correct answer and a short explanation below.

1. Q1.Which Buddhist literature is the primary source for the list of sixteen Mahajanapadas?

   • A.Suttanipata
   • B.Anguttara Nikaya✓ Correct Answer
   • C.Vinaya Pitaka
   • D.Abhidhamma Pitaka

   Explanation: The Buddhist literature Anguttara Nikaya gives the list of sixteen major states known as 'Sixteen Mahajanapadas' that existed before the birth of Gautama Buddha.

2. Q2.Which Jain text mentions the sixteen Mahajanapadas?

   • A.Kalpasutra
   • B.Acharanga Sutra
   • C.Bhagavati Sutra✓ Correct Answer
   • D.Parishishtaparvan

   Explanation: The Jain literature Bhagavati Sutra also mentions the names of the sixteen Mahajanapadas, although the names differ slightly from those in Buddhist texts.

3. Q3.According to the Mahabharata and Puranas, what was the ancient name of Champa?

   • A.Malini✓ Correct Answer
   • B.Mahishmati
   • C.Pushkalavati
   • D.Viratnagar

   Explanation: Champa was the capital of Anga. In the Mahabharata and Puranas, its ancient name is mentioned as Malini.

4. Q4.Who was the physician sent by Bimbisara to treat King Chandapradyota of Avanti?

   • A.Charaka
   • B.Dhanvantari
   • C.Jivaka✓ Correct Answer
   • D.Sushruta

   Explanation: The famous historical physician Jivaka was related to the court of Bimbisara. Bimbisara sent Jivaka to the state of Avanti's king Chandapradyota for medicinal service.

5. Q5.Who founded the Pataliputra city?

   • A.Ajatshatru
   • B.Udayin✓ Correct Answer
   • C.Bimbisara
   • D.Shishunaga

   Explanation: Udayin, the successor of Ajatshatru, founded Pataliputra by building a fort at the confluence of the Son and Ganga rivers.

6. Q6.Which dynasty was the first to rule Magadha according to the Puranas?

   • A.Haryanka Dynasty
   • B.Brihadratha Dynasty✓ Correct Answer
   • C.Shishunaga Dynasty
   • D.Nanda Dynasty

   Explanation: According to the Puranas, the first dynasty to rule Magadha was 'Brihadratha'. Jarasandha was a king of this dynasty.

7. Q7.Which ruler shifted the capital of Magadha from Rajgriha to Pataliputra?

   • A.Bimbisara
   • B.Ajatshatru
   • C.Udayin✓ Correct Answer
   • D.Kalashoka

   Explanation: Udayin shifted the capital of the Magadha Empire from Rajgriha to Pataliputra.

8. Q8.Which inscription mentions the digging of canals by King Mahapadmananda?

   • A.Junagarh Inscription
   • B.Hathigumpha Inscription✓ Correct Answer
   • C.Aihole Inscription
   • D.Mehrauli Inscription

   Explanation: The Hathigumpha inscription of Kharvela mentions the engraving of canals in Kalinga by King Mahapadmananda.

9. Q9.Where was the capital of the Surasena Mahajanapada located?

   • A.Varanasi
   • B.Mathura✓ Correct Answer
   • C.Kaushambi
   • D.Indraprastha

   Explanation: The Surasena Mahajanapada was located in the modern Braj region, and its capital was Mathura.

10. Q10.Which Mahajanapada was situated between the Narmada and Godavari rivers?

    • A.Avanti
    • B.Matsya
    • C.Assaka (Ashmaka)✓ Correct Answer
    • D.Vatsa

    Explanation: According to Buddhist and Jain texts, the Assaka or Ashmaka Mahajanapada was located between the Godavari and Narmada rivers.

11. Q11.Which ruler assumed the titles 'Ekrata' and 'Ekchhatra'?

    • A.Chandragupta Maurya
    • B.Mahapadmananda✓ Correct Answer
    • C.Ajatshatru
    • D.Kalashoka

    Explanation: According to the Puranas, the founder of the Nanda dynasty, Mahapadmananda, assumed the titles of 'Ekrata' and 'Ekchhatra'.

12. Q12.Who was the last ruler of the Nanda dynasty?

    • A.Mahapadmananda
    • B.Panduk
    • C.Dhanananda✓ Correct Answer
    • D.Kaivart

    Explanation: There were 9 kings in the Nanda dynasty, and the last one was Dhanananda.

13. Q13.What were the two capitals of the Avanti Mahajanapada?

    • A.Ujjayini and Mahishmati✓ Correct Answer
    • B.Taxila and Pushkalavati
    • C.Champa and Rajgriha
    • D.Ahichchhatra and Kampilya

    Explanation: Avanti Mahajanapada had two parts: the capital of Northern Avanti was Ujjayini, and the capital of Southern Avanti was Mahishmati.

14. Q14.Which Mahajanapada was famous for its education center Taxila?

    • A.Kamboja
    • B.Gandhara✓ Correct Answer
    • C.Kuru
    • D.Panchala

    Explanation: Gandhara Mahajanapada was located in the Peshawar and Rawalpindi districts, and Takshashila (Taxila) was founded by Taksha, the son of Bharat.

15. Q15.In which Mahajanapada was the city of Kalpi situated?

    • A.Chedi✓ Correct Answer
    • B.Vatsa
    • C.Malla
    • D.Kashi

    Explanation: The town Kalpi is situated in the Jalaun district on the bank of the Yamuna. In the 6th century BC, it was part of the Chedi Mahajanapada.

16. Q16.Which ancient Indian book mentions 22 Mahajanapadas?

    • A.Indica
    • B.Arthashastra
    • C.Ashtadhyayi✓ Correct Answer
    • D.Mahabhashya

    Explanation: 22 Mahajanapadas are mentioned in Panini's Ashtadhyayi.

17. Q17.What was the capital of the Vatsa Mahajanapada?

    • A.Mathura
    • B.Kaushambi✓ Correct Answer
    • C.Shravasti
    • D.Ayodhya

    Explanation: The capital of Vatsa Mahajanapada, which covered modern Allahabad and Banda districts, was Kaushambi.

18. Q18.Who was the king of Vatsa who is the hero of the play 'Svapnavasavadattam'?

    • A.Pradyota
    • B.Udayan✓ Correct Answer
    • C.Prasenjit
    • D.Ajatshatru

    Explanation: The poet Bhaas described the love story of Vatsa king Udayan and Vasavadatta in his drama 'Svapnavasavadattam'.

19. Q19.Which city was known as 'Malini' in ancient times?

    • A.Vaishali
    • B.Mithila
    • C.Champa✓ Correct Answer
    • D.Varanasi

    Explanation: In the Mahabharata and Puranas, the ancient name of Champa, the capital of Anga, is mentioned as 'Malini'.

20. Q20.Which river valley was the location of the Assaka Mahajanapada?

    • A.Ganga
    • B.Yamuna
    • C.Godavari✓ Correct Answer
    • D.Kaveri

    Explanation: The 'Assaka' or 'Ashmaka' was located in the Godavari valley (and between Godavari and Narmada) during the 6th century.