Consider the following pairs:
Contents10
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?
- AOnly one pair
- BOnly two pairs
- COnly three pairs
- DAll four pairs
Show answer
Answer: (B) Only two pairs
Option (b) is correct:
EDICTS OF ASHOKA
Manserah
Shabazgarhi
Kandahar
Kalsi
Dehli-Topra
Lumbini
Meerut
Lauriya-Nandangarh
Rampurva
Kausambi
Lauriya-Araraj
Girnar
Sopara
Dhauli
Sannathi
Jaugada
Amaravati
Yerragudi
EDICTS OF ASHOKA
- Major rock edicts
- Pillar edicts
- Minor rock edicts
Territorial limits
- Pair 1 is correctly matched: Dhauli is located in Odisha.
- Pair 2 is correctly matched: Erragudi or Yerragudi is located in Andhra Pradesh
- Pair 3 is incorrectly matched: Jaugada is located in Odisha.
- Pair 4 is incorrectly matched: Kalsi is located in Uttarakhand.
Ashoka's Major Rock Edicts are scattered across 14 locations from Afghanistan to Karnataka, marking the vast extent of the Mauryan Empire.
UPSC frequently tests the exact state locations of these edict sites because students often confuse similar-sounding places or assume logical but wrong locations.
The key trap here is that both Dhauli and Jaugada are actually in Odisha, while Kalsi is in Uttarakhand, not the southern states students might assume.
Ashoka's Major Rock Edicts Locations
Ancient And Medieval History Dhauli Erragudi Jaugada Kalsi major rock edicts
Ashoka's Major Rock Edicts: Complete Location Map & UPSC Traps
14 Major Rock Edicts found at multiple sites across Mauryan territory
Dhauli (Odisha) and Erragudi (Andhra Pradesh) - correctly matched in question
Jaugada is in Odisha, NOT Madhya Pradesh - common UPSC trap
Kalsi is in Uttarakhand, NOT Karnataka - location confusion
Ashoka's Major Rock Edicts were inscribed around 260-250 BCE after the Kalinga War to spread Dhamma across his empire. These 14 edicts appear at strategic locations covering the empire's extent from Afghanistan to South India.
Major Rock Edict Sites by Region
Site | Modern State/Country | Region | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|---|
Dhauli | Odisha (Puri) | Eastern Coast | Separate Kalinga Edicts + Major Rock Edicts |
Jaugada | Odisha (Ganjam) | Eastern Coast | Post-Kalinga War site |
Erragudi | Andhra Pradesh (Kurnool) | South India | Telugu region coverage |
Kalsi | Uttarakhand (Dehradun) | Northern Hills | Himalayan foothills |
Girnar | Gujarat (Junagadh) | Western India | Saurashtra peninsula |
Sopara | Maharashtra (Thane) | Western Coast | Ancient port city |
Shahbazgarhi | Pakistan (KPK) | Northwest | Kharosthi script |
Mansehra | Pakistan (KPK) | Northwest | Kharosthi script |
Distribution Map
Source: Sleepy Classes — Solved] Consider the following pairs: Site of Ashoka's major ... · sleepyclasses.com
Question Analysis
This 2022 PYQ tests precise geographical knowledge of edict locations. UPSC deliberately pairs Jaugada with Madhya Pradesh and Kalsi with Karnataka - both wrong states that sound plausible.
Jaugada trap: Both Dhauli and Jaugada are in Odisha - don't assume different edicts = different states
Kalsi confusion: Sounds South Indian but it's in Uttarakhand near Dehradun
Script mixing: Northwestern sites (Shahbazgarhi, Mansehra) use Kharosthi, others use Brahmi
Separate vs Major: Dhauli has both Major Rock Edicts AND separate Kalinga Edicts - don't confuse
Mauryan Empire Geographical Extent
Ancient And Medieval History
Mauryan Empire: Territorial Extent & Administrative Geography
Largest pre-Gupta empire covering Afghanistan to South India
4 provinces: Central, Eastern, Western, Southern + Magadha (core)
Extended from Hindu Kush to Karnataka, Arabian Sea to Bay of Bengal
The Mauryan Empire (321-185 BCE) was the first to politically unify most of the Indian subcontinent. Chandragupta established it, Bindusara expanded it, and Ashoka brought it to its greatest extent after conquering Kalinga (260 BCE).
Mauryan Provinces & Capitals
Province | Capital | Modern Coverage | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
Central (Magadha) | Pataliputra | Bihar, parts of UP, Bengal | Imperial core, main capital |
Western (Avanti) | Ujjayini | Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra | Trade routes control |
Southern (Dakshinapatha) | Suvarnagiri | Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh | Post-Bindusara expansion |
Eastern | Tosali | Odisha, coastal Bengal | Post-Kalinga integration |
Northwestern | Taxila | Afghanistan, Pakistan, Kashmir | Hellenistic influence zone |
Empire Boundaries
# Mauryan Territory
## Northern Limits
- Hindu Kush mountains
- Kabul valley
- Kashmir region
## Southern Limits
- Karnataka plateau
- Mysore region
- Not Tamil regions
## Western Limits
- Baluchistan
- Arabian Sea coast
- Saurashtra
## Eastern Limits
- Bengal delta
- Kalinga coast
- Bay of BengalAshoka's Dhamma & Inscription Types
Ancient And Medieval History Dhamma
Ashoka's Dhamma Policy & Classification of Inscriptions
Dhamma = moral righteousness, not sectarian Buddhism
4 types of inscriptions: Major Rock, Minor Rock, Pillar, Cave
Written in Brahmi (most), Kharosthi (northwest), Greek & Aramaic (Afghanistan)
After the Kalinga War (260 BCE), Ashoka adopted Dhamma - a policy of moral governance emphasizing non-violence, tolerance, and welfare. His inscriptions spread this message across the empire in local languages and scripts.
Types of Ashokan Inscriptions
Type | Count | Content Focus | Key Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
Major Rock Edicts | 14 edicts | Complete Dhamma policy | Dhauli, Girnar, Erragudi |
Minor Rock Edicts | 3 edicts | Personal Buddhist faith | Maski, Gujarra, Nettur |
Pillar Edicts | 7 edicts | Administrative orders | Delhi-Topra, Lauriya-Nandangarh |
Cave Inscriptions | 3 dedications | Donations to Ajivikas | Barabar Hills (Bihar) |
Dhamma Principles
Ahimsa (non-violence) - reduced animal sacrifice, stopped royal hunts
Religious tolerance - respect for all sects, Brahmanas and Shramanas
Social welfare - hospitals, roads, wells, botanical gardens
Moral conduct - truthfulness, compassion, charity, purity
Administrative ethics - accessibility of officials, justice for all
Dhamma ≠ Buddhism: Ashoka's Dhamma was secular moral code, not religious doctrine
Language confusion: Prakrit language but Brahmi/Kharosthi scripts - don't mix language & script
Kalinga vs Dhauli: Kalinga is the war/region, Dhauli is the edict site in modern Odisha