Mahajanapadas and Magadha Empire MCQ: Ajatshatru, Vaishali's Republic & the Nanda Dynasty

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

1. Q1.Who killed his father Bimbisara to sit on the throne of Magadha?

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

   Explanation: The ruler of Magadha, Ajatshatru (492-460 BC), killed his father Bimbisara to sit on the throne.

2. Q2.Which area constituted the Matsya Mahajanapada?

   • A.Western Uttar Pradesh
   • B.Jaipur region of Rajasthan✓ Correct Answer
   • C.Bundelkhand
   • D.Malwa

   Explanation: Matsya Mahajanapada was located in the Jaipur region of Rajasthan.

3. Q3.What was the capital of the Northern Panchala?

   • A.Kampilya
   • B.Ahichchhatra✓ Correct Answer
   • C.Indraprastha
   • D.Hastinapur

   Explanation: The capital of Northern Panchala was Ahichchhatra, and the capital of Southern Panchala was Kampilya.

4. Q4.The Hathigumpha inscription is associated with which ruler?

   • A.Ashoka
   • B.Kharavela✓ Correct Answer
   • C.Rudradaman
   • D.Samudragupta

   Explanation: Kharavela was the most important emperor of the Chedi dynasty of Kalinga. His Hathigumpha inscription is a major source of information.

5. Q5.Which Mahajanapada was known as 'Surasenoi' by Greek writers?

   • A.Matsya
   • B.Surasena✓ Correct Answer
   • C.Vatsa
   • D.Vajji

   Explanation: Ancient Greek writers called the state of Surasena as 'Surasenoi' and its capital as 'Mathora' (Mathura).

6. Q6.Which ancient city is considered the world's first republic founded by the Lichchhavis?

   • A.Vaishali✓ Correct Answer
   • B.Pataliputra
   • C.Rajgriha
   • D.Champa

   Explanation: Lichhavis of Vaishali founded the world's first republic. Vaishali was the largest and most powerful republic of the Buddha period.

7. Q7.In which Buddhist text has Vaishali been referred to as 'Magadhham Puram'?

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

   Explanation: Vaishali has been called 'Magadhham Puram' in the Buddhist text Suttanipata.

8. Q8.Which of the following cities was NOT one of the six metropolises (Mahanagaras) during Buddha's time?

   • A.Champa
   • B.Saket
   • C.Vaishali✓ Correct Answer
   • D.Shravasti

   Explanation: The six metropolises described in Mahaparinirvan-sutra are Champa, Rajgriha, Benaras, Saket, Kaushambi, and Shravasti. Vaishali is not included in this specific list of six metros.

9. Q9.Who was the ruler of Magadha known as 'Kunika'?

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

   Explanation: After Bimbisara, his son 'Kunika' Ajatshatru (approx 492-460 BC) became the ruler of Magadha.

10. Q10.Which Kosala king married his daughter Wajira to Ajatshatru?

    • A.Pradyota
    • B.Udayana
    • C.Prasenjit✓ Correct Answer
    • D.Chetak

    Explanation: After a struggle, there was a treaty between Ajatshatru and Kosala King Prasenjit. Prasenjit married his daughter, Wajira, to Ajatshatru.

11. Q11.According to the Puranas, Mahapadmananda belonged to which Varna?

    • A.Brahmin
    • B.Kshatriya
    • C.Vaishya
    • D.Shudra✓ Correct Answer

    Explanation: According to the Puranas, the founder of the Nanda dynasty, Mahapadmananda, was a Shudra ruler.

12. Q12.What was the capital of the Chedi Mahajanapada?

    • A.Suktimati✓ Correct Answer
    • B.Mahishmati
    • C.Viratnagar
    • D.Indraprastha

    Explanation: In the sixth century BC, the capital of Chedi Mahajanapada (modern Bundelkhand) was 'Kotthivati' which is known as 'Suktimati' in Mahabharata.

13. Q13.Which women of an Indian republic took up arms against Alexander?

    • A.Malava
    • B.Kshudraka
    • C.Ashwaka (Massaga)✓ Correct Answer
    • D.Shibi

    Explanation: According to Greek writers, the women of the Ashwaka republic (capital Massaga) took up arms against Alexander after a large number of men were killed.

14. Q14.Who was the founder of the Nanda dynasty?

    • A.Dhanananda
    • B.Ugrasen (Mahapadma)✓ Correct Answer
    • C.Panduk
    • D.Kaivart

    Explanation: The Nanda dynasty was founded by Ugrasen, who is called Mahapadma in the Puranas.

15. Q15.Which Nanda king is credited with building a canal in Kalinga?

    • A.Dhanananda
    • B.Mahapadmananda✓ Correct Answer
    • C.Pandugati
    • D.Bhootpal

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

16. Q16.According to the Hathigumpha inscription, which statue did King Nanda take away from Kalinga?

    • A.Buddha
    • B.Jinsen✓ Correct Answer
    • C.Vishnu
    • D.Shiva

    Explanation: According to the Hathigumpha inscription, King Nanda took away the statue of King Jinsen from Kalinga.

17. Q17.Which Mahajanapada corresponded to the modern districts of Bhagalpur and Munger?

    • A.Magadha
    • B.Anga✓ Correct Answer
    • C.Vajji
    • D.Malla

    Explanation: The present part of northern Bihar known as Bhagalpur and Munger districts were part of the Anga Mahajanapada.

18. Q18.Who was the last ruler of the Shishunaga dynasty?

    • A.Kakavarna
    • B.Nandivardhana
    • C.Mahanandin✓ Correct Answer
    • D.Kshemdharman

    Explanation: According to the Puranas, Mahanandin was the last ruler of the Shishunaga dynasty before the rise of the Nandas.

19. Q19.What is the correct chronological sequence of the dynasties that ruled Magadha?

    • A.Nanda, Maurya, Haryanka, Shishunaga
    • B.Haryanka, Shishunaga, Nanda, Maurya✓ Correct Answer
    • C.Shishunaga, Haryanka, Nanda, Maurya
    • D.Haryanka, Nanda, Shishunaga, Maurya

    Explanation: The correct sequence is: Haryanka dynasty (544-412 BC), Shishunaga dynasty (412-344 BC), Nanda dynasty (344-321 BC), and Mauryan dynasty (321-184 BC).

20. Q20.What was the capital of the Southern Panchala?

    • A.Ahichchhatra
    • B.Kampilya✓ Correct Answer
    • C.Indraprastha
    • D.Mathura

    Explanation: The Panchala Mahajanapada had two parts: the capital of North Panchala was Ahichchhatra and South Panchala was Kampilya.