UPSC Ancient India – Chapter 12: Ashoka – Dhamma, Edicts and Inscriptions (22 MCQs)

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UPSC Ancient India – Chapter 12: Ashoka – Dhamma, Edicts and Inscriptions (22 MCQs) – 22 questions, subject: History. Every question has the correct answer with a one-line explanation; tap "Show Answer". Free practice for TNPSC, UPSC, SSC, Bank and RRB exams – Shanmugam IAS Academy, Coimbatore.

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1.  

The Kalinga war is described in Ashoka's:

Correct Answer: A [Rock Edict XIII]

Explanation:

Rock Edict XIII records the Kalinga war's deaths and deportations, Ashoka's remorse and his turn to dhamma-vijaya.

2.  

Dhamma mahamattas were appointed according to:

Correct Answer: C [Rock Edict V]

Explanation:

Rock Edict V records that Ashoka created dhamma mahamattas thirteen years after consecration to spread dhamma among all sects.

3.  

Ashoka's edicts at Shahbazgarhi and Mansehra are written in:

Correct Answer: A [Kharosthi]

Explanation:

Shahbazgarhi and Mansehra in the north-west carry the major rock edicts in Kharosthi, written right to left.

4.  

The Rummindei pillar inscription records Ashoka's visit to:

Correct Answer: B [Lumbini]

Explanation:

The Rummindei pillar marks Ashoka's visit to Lumbini, the Buddha's birthplace, and his tax concession to the village.

5.  

The name "Ashoka" appears in the minor rock edict at:

Correct Answer: D [Maski]

Explanation:

The Maski minor rock edict, found in 1915, calls the king 'Devanampiya Asoka', first proving Piyadasi was Ashoka.

6.  

Dhamma-yatras replacing pleasure tours are mentioned in:

Correct Answer: B [Rock Edict VIII]

Explanation:

Rock Edict VIII says Ashoka replaced pleasure tours (vihara-yatras) with dhamma-yatras, beginning with a visit to Sambodhi.

7.  

The separate Kalinga edicts, containing "all men are my children", are found at:

Correct Answer: A [Dhauli and Jaugada]

Explanation:

At Dhauli and Jaugada in Kalinga, separate edicts replace RE XI-XIII and declare 'all men are my children'.

8.  

The Queen's Edict, recording gifts of queen Karuvaki, is on the:

Correct Answer: B [Allahabad pillar]

Explanation:

The Allahabad (Kosam) pillar carries the Queen's Edict recording the gifts of the second queen Karuvaki.

9.  

Ashoka's bilingual Greek and Aramaic inscription was found at:

Correct Answer: D [Kandahar]

Explanation:

The Kandahar (Shar-i-Kuna) inscription in Afghanistan gives Ashoka's message in both Greek and Aramaic.

10.  

Consider the following statements about Ashoka's dhamma:

1. It stressed respect for elders and kindness to servants.
2. It urged tolerance towards all sects.
3. It required all subjects to become Buddhists.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Correct Answer: B [1 and 2 only]

Explanation:

Dhamma stressed respect for elders, kindness to servants and tolerance of all sects, but never forced conversion to Buddhism.

11.  

Assertion (A): Rock Edict XIII names several Hellenistic kings.

Reason (R): Ashoka claimed that dhamma-vijaya had been achieved in their lands.

Correct Answer: A [Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A]

Explanation:

Ashoka names the Hellenistic kings in RE XIII precisely to claim dhamma-vijaya in their lands, so R explains A.

12.  

The only pillar that carries all seven pillar edicts is the:

Correct Answer: D [Delhi–Topra pillar]

Explanation:

The Delhi-Topra pillar, moved to Delhi by Firoz Shah Tughlaq, is the only one bearing all seven pillar edicts.

13.  

The Bhabru edict mentions Ashoka's faith in:

Correct Answer: C [the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Sangha]

Explanation:

The Bhabru (Calcutta-Bairat) edict, addressed to the sangha, declares Ashoka's reverence for the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Sangha.

14.  

In the Rummindei inscription, the village of Lumbini had its bhaga reduced to:

Correct Answer: C [one-eighth]

Explanation:

The inscription says Lumbini was freed from bali and made to pay only one-eighth (athabhagiya) as bhaga.

15.  

Rock Edict II is notable for:

Correct Answer: D [medical care for humans and animals]

Explanation:

Rock Edict II records that Ashoka arranged medical care for humans and animals, with medicinal herbs, wells and trees.

16.  

Ashoka usually refers to himself in his edicts as:

Correct Answer: B [Devanampiya Piyadasi]

Explanation:

Ashoka's edicts call him Devanampiya Piyadasi, 'beloved of the gods, of pleasing appearance'; 'Ashoka' appears only in a few.

17.  

Arrange the following in chronological order:

1. Maski edict found
2. Kalinga war
3. Lion Capital adopted as the State Emblem
4. Brahmi deciphered

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Correct Answer: C [2-4-1-3]

Explanation:

Order: Kalinga war (c. 261 BCE) → Brahmi deciphered (1837) → Maski edict found (1915) → Lion Capital adopted as the State Emblem (1950).

18.  

The language of most Ashokan edicts is:

Correct Answer: A [Prakrit]

Explanation:

Most Ashokan edicts are in Prakrit, the spoken language of the time, written mostly in Brahmi.

19.  

Erragudi, a site of Ashoka's major rock edicts, is in:

Correct Answer: B [Andhra Pradesh]

Explanation:

Erragudi, with a set of major and minor rock edicts, is in Andhra Pradesh near Pattikonda.

20.  

Rock Edicts II and XIII refer to the Cholas and Pandyas as:

Correct Answer: C [neighbouring peoples beyond the empire]

Explanation:

Rock Edicts II and XIII name the Cholas and Pandyas as border peoples outside the empire, receiving welfare and dhamma.

21.  
UPSC Prelims 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 ?

Correct Answer: B [Only two pairs]

Explanation:

Dhauli (Odisha) and Erragudi (Andhra Pradesh) are correct; Jaugada is in Odisha and Kalsi in Uttarakhand.

22.  
UPSC Prelims 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."

Correct Answer: A [Ashoka]

Explanation:

The passage is from Ashoka's Rock Edict XII, which urges restraint in speech and respect for all religious sects as part of his Dhamma.

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