Satavahana Empire Quiz

Satavahana architecture in Pandavleni Caves Nashik, Cave No. 3

 Q.1. Which Satavahana ruler had authored Gathasaptashati?

[A]  Gautamiputra Satkarni 

[B] Simuka 

[C] Pulumayi 

[D] Hala

Q.2. The famous book ‘Brihatkatha’ written in Paishachi language was composed by __?

[A] Subandhu

[B] Guṇāḍhya 

[C] Somadeva 

[D] Kshemendra 

Q.3. With whom is Nashik Inscription associated?

[A] Samudragupta

[B] Rudradaman 

[C] Gautamiputra Satakarni

[D] Ashoka

Q.4. Who was the founder of the Satavahana Dynasty?

[A] Simuka

[B] Vasishthiputra Pulumavi

[C] Hala

[D] Gautamiputra Satakarni 

Q.5 Which Satavahana ruler assumed the title of Kavi Vatsal?

[A] Yajna Sri Satkarni

[B] Vasishthiputra Pulumavi

[C] Hala

[D] Gautamiputra Satakarni 

Q.6. Which of the following Puranas provides the list of 30 Satavahana kings detailing their reigns and chronological order spanning a total of 460 years? 

[A] Vishnu Purana

[B] Vayu Purana

[C] Skanda Purana 

[D] Matsya Purana

Q.7. Which Satavahana king had defeated the Saka ruler Nahapana and restored the Satavahana Empire to its former glory around 125 AD?  

[A] Vashishtiputra Satakarni

[B] Gautamiputra Satakarni  

[C] Satakarni I

[D] Yajna Shri Satakarni

Q.8. Consider the following statements:

1. The last Mauryan king Brihadaratha was assassinated by his commander-in-chief, Pushyamitra Sunga, who went on to found the Sunga dynasty.

2. The last Sunga ruler, Devabhuti, was assassinated by his Brahmana minister Vasudeva who started the Kanva dynasty.

3. Susarman, the last ruler of the Kanva dynasty, was killed by the Satavahana (Andhra) ruler. 

Which of these statements is/are correct?

[A] 1 and 2

[B] 2 and 3

[C] Only 2

[D] 1,2, and 3

Answer: 

Q.1. -  D

Hāla was a Satavahana king who is traditionally assigned the authorship of Saptasataka (Seven Hundred) or Gathasaptashati, the most important literary work in Prakrit. Written in the Arya metre, Saptasataka is a collection of self contained stanzas full of beauty. 

Q.2. -  B

Brihatkatha is a book written by Gunadhya. Gunadhya was a scholar in the court of Satvahana King Hala. Brihat Katha is written in Paisachi language.

Q. 3. -  C

Nashik prashasti inscription was issued by Gautami Balashri, the mother of Gautamiputra Satakarni. Gautamiputra Satakarni was the greatest ruler of Satavahana Dynasty.

Q. 4. - A

Simuka was the founder of Satavahana dynasty.

Q. 5. - C

Haḷa was the eighteenth Satavahana ruler who bagged the title "Kavivatsala" for his patronage of Prakrit literature. 

Yajna Sri Satkarni was  the last important Satvahana ruler who ruled at the end of the 2nd century AD.

Q. 6. - D

The various Puranas give different lists of the Satavahana rulers. The Matsya Purana states that 30 Satavahana rulers ruled for 460 years. 

Q. 7. - D

Gautamiputra Satakarni, the greatest Satavahana ruler, had defeated the Saka ruler Nahapana and restored the prestige of his dynasty by reconquering a large part of the former dominions of the Satavahanas.

Q. 8. - D