Q140. Which Chinese pilgrim travelled in India during Harshavardhana’s reign?
[SSC CGL – 2023]
A. Faxian
B. Xuanzang
C. I-Tsing only after 700 CE
D. Sung Yun
Answer: B. Xuanzang
Explanation: Xuanzang visited Harsha’s kingdom and Nalanda and recorded extensive observations concerning political geography, Buddhist institutions and social conditions in seventh-century India.
Q139. Who was Harshavardhana’s famous court poet?
[SSC MTS – 2023]
A. Banabhatta
B. Kalidasa
C. Harisena
D. Ashvaghosha
Answer: A. Banabhatta
Explanation: Banabhatta enjoyed Harsha’s patronage and authored Harshacharita and much of Kadambari, securing an important place in classical Sanskrit prose literature.
Q138. Which work was NOT composed by Harshavardhana?
[SSC MTS – 2023]
A. Ratnavali
B. Nagananda
C. Priyadarshika
D. Amuktamalyada
Answer: D. Amuktamalyada
Explanation: Amuktamalyada was composed much later by Vijayanagara emperor Krishnadevaraya. The other three Sanskrit dramas are traditionally attributed to Harsha.
Q137. Which Gupta ruler is traditionally associated with the establishment of Nalanda?
[SSC MTS – 2023]
A. Chandragupta I
B. Kumaragupta I
C. Skandagupta
D. Vishnugupta
Answer: B. Kumaragupta I
Explanation: Kumaragupta I, sometimes identified with Shakraditya of later traditions, is generally credited in examination literature with founding or initially patronizing Nalanda Mahavihara.
Q136. Which Navaratna is traditionally associated with the work Mantrashastra?
[SSC MTS – 2023]
A. Vetala Bhatta
B. Varahamihira
C. Amarasimha
D. Dhanvantari
Answer: A. Vetala Bhatta
Explanation: Traditional lists of Vikramaditya’s Nine Gems identify Vetala Bhatta as a scholar associated with Mantrashastra, though the Navaratna tradition developed in later literature.
Q135. Who succeeded Chandragupta II on the Gupta throne?
[SSC MTS – 2023]
A. Kumaragupta I
B. Samudragupta
C. Skandagupta
D. Purugupta
Answer: A. Kumaragupta I
Explanation: Kumaragupta I succeeded Chandragupta II around 415 CE and maintained Gupta political stability for approximately four decades before Skandagupta’s reign.
Q134. Nalanda Mahavihara is located in present-day:
[SSC MTS – 2023]
A. Bihar
B. Uttar Pradesh
C. Madhya Pradesh
D. Odisha
Answer: A. Bihar
Explanation: The archaeological remains of Nalanda are in Bihar near Rajgir. The institution became an internationally renowned Buddhist centre of learning in ancient India.
Q133. Who succeeded the early Gupta ruler Ghatotkacha?
[SSC MTS – 2023]
A. Chandragupta I
B. Samudragupta
C. Chandragupta II
D. Skandagupta
Answer: A. Chandragupta I
Explanation: The early Gupta genealogy proceeds from Sri Gupta to Ghatotkacha and then Chandragupta I, under whom the dynasty acquired substantially greater imperial importance.
Q132. The famous Iron Pillar at Mehrauli belongs broadly to which dynasty’s age?
[SSC CHSL – 2023]
A. Gupta
B. Maurya
C. Chola
D. Mughal
Answer: A. Gupta
Explanation: Its Sanskrit inscription celebrates a king named Chandra, generally identified with Chandragupta II, and illustrates the high metallurgical achievement of Gupta-age India.
Q131. Harshacharita, an important source for Harsha’s reign, was composed by:
[SSC CHSL – 2023]
A. Banabhatta
B. Kalhana
C. Bilhana
D. Harisena
Answer: A. Banabhatta
Explanation: Banabhatta’s work provides valuable information about Harsha’s family, court and political environment despite being an ornate royal biography rather than modern historiography.
