Mahajanapadas and Magadha Empire MCQ: Nanda Dynasty, Kharavela & Ajatshatru's Conquest of the Vajji Confederacy

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

1. Q1.Which Mahajanapada was located in the Peshawar and Rawalpindi districts?

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

   Explanation: Gandhara Mahajanapada was located in the Peshawar and Rawalpindi districts of present-day Pakistan.

2. Q2.How many kings were there in the Nanda dynasty?

   • A.7
   • B.8
   • C.9✓ Correct Answer
   • D.10

   Explanation: There were 9 kings in the Nanda dynasty, starting with Ugrasen (Mahapadma) and ending with Dhanananda.

3. Q3.Which dynasty ruled Magadha immediately after the Shishunaga dynasty?

   • A.Haryanka Dynasty
   • B.Nanda Dynasty✓ Correct Answer
   • C.Maurya Dynasty
   • D.Shunga Dynasty

   Explanation: The Nanda dynasty of Magadha was founded after ending the Shishunaga dynasty.

4. Q4.Who was the first ruler of the Nanda dynasty?

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

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

5. Q5.Which Chedi ruler of Kalinga defeated the Chola, Chera, and Pandya kings?

   • A.Kharavela✓ Correct Answer
   • B.Mahapadmananda
   • C.Ashoka
   • D.Chandragupta

   Explanation: The Hathigumpha inscription shows that Kharavela defeated the three states Chola, Chera, and Pandyas of the South.

6. Q6.Which inscription is the first to mention the digging of canals?

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

   Explanation: The Hathigumpha inscription is the first inscription which tells about the engraving of canals (by King Mahapadmananda).

7. Q7.What was the capital of the Chedi Mahajanapada in the 6th century BC?

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

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

8. Q8.Which Mahajanapada was located in the modern Jaipur region of Rajasthan?

   • A.Avanti
   • B.Matsya✓ Correct Answer
   • C.Surasena
   • D.Kuru

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

9. Q9.Which of the following was NOT one of the 16 Mahajanapadas mentioned in Buddhist texts?

   • A.Kamboja
   • B.Gandhara
   • C.Kikat✓ Correct Answer
   • D.Assaka

   Explanation: Kamboja, Gandhara, and Assaka are listed among the 16 Mahajanapadas. Kikat is mentioned in Rigveda as a tribe but not as one of the 16 Mahajanapadas.

10. Q10.Which river separated the Panchala Mahajanapada in the south?

    • A.Ganga
    • B.Yamuna
    • C.Chambal✓ Correct Answer
    • D.Son

    Explanation: The boundaries of the Panchal ranged from the foothills of the Himalayas to the Chambal River in the south.

11. Q11.Kashi had a long rivalry with which of the following Mahajanapadas?

    • A.Kosala, Anga, and Magadha✓ Correct Answer
    • B.Vatsa, Avanti, and Kuru
    • C.Gandhara, Kamboja, and Matsya
    • D.Chedi, Malla, and Vajji

    Explanation: Kashi was one of the richest Mahajanapadas and had a long rivalry with Kosala, Anga, and Magadha.

12. Q12.Which ruler shifted the capital from Rajgriha to Pataliputra?

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

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

13. Q13.In which text has Megasthenes described the administration of Pataliputra?

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

    Explanation: Megasthenes in his book named 'Indica' has described the prosperity and the ruling system of Pataliputra.

14. Q14.Who was the first scholar to recognize 'Sandrokottos' as Chandragupta Maurya?

    • A.V. Smith
    • B.William Jones✓ Correct Answer
    • C.D.R. Bhandarkar
    • D.R.K. Mukherjee

    Explanation: William Jones was the first scholar who recognized Sandrokottos as Chandra Gupta Maurya.

15. Q15.Which Jain text lists the 16 Mahajanapadas with names like Anga, Banga, Malay, etc.?

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

    Explanation: In the Jain literature 'Bhagavati Sutra', names of these 16 Mahajanapadas are mentioned with some different names like Anga, Banga, Malay, etc.

16. Q16.What was the capital of the Malla Mahajanapada?

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

    Explanation: The Malla Mahajanapada was a republican state with two divisions. One capital was Kushinara (identified with Kasia) and the other was Pava.

17. Q17.Where did Gautama Buddha attain Mahaparinirvana?

    • A.Rajgriha
    • B.Kushinara✓ Correct Answer
    • C.Shravasti
    • D.Bodh Gaya

    Explanation: Gautama Buddha attained Mahaparinirvana at Kushinara, which was the capital of the Malla republic.

18. Q18.Which Magadha ruler annexed the Anga Mahajanapada?

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

    Explanation: Bimbisara, the founder of the Haryanka dynasty, annexed Anga to Magadha and appointed his son Ajatshatru as its governor.

19. Q19.Who was the minister of Ajatshatru who sowed seeds of dissension in the Vajji confederacy?

    • A.Vassakara✓ Correct Answer
    • B.Sunidha
    • C.Dirghacharayana
    • D.Chanakya

    Explanation: Ajatshatru sent his minister Vassakara to sow seeds of dissension among the Lichchhavis of Vajji, which helped him conquer them.

20. Q20.Which war engines were used by Ajatshatru against the Lichchhavis?

    • A.Rathamusala and Mahashilakantaka✓ Correct Answer
    • B.Agneyastra and Varunastra
    • C.Brahmastra and Pashupatastra
    • D.Chakra and Gada

    Explanation: Ajatshatru used two new secret weapons named 'Rathamusala' (a chariot with a mace) and 'Mahashilakantaka' (a stone-throwing machine) in the war against the Lichchhavis.