Ancient Indian Inscriptions

Step 1: Context of Mandsaur inscription.
The Mandsaur inscription is a 5th-century CE record that describes the activities of a guild of silk weavers who migrated from Gujarat and settled in Mandsaur (present-day Madhya Pradesh).
Step 2: Significance.
This inscription is important for economic history because it shows the role of guilds in ancient India and their contribution to temple construction and community works.
Step 3: Elimination of options.
- (A) Rajasthan: Incorrect, not the site of discovery.
- (B) Madhya Pradesh: Correct, Mandsaur is located here.
- (C) Karnataka: Incorrect, unrelated to this inscription.
- (D) Gujarat: The silk weavers came from Gujarat, but the inscription was not found there.
Conclusion: The inscription was discovered at Mandsaur in Madhya Pradesh.

Step 1: Identify the ruler.
Rudradaman I was one of the most famous rulers of the Western Kshatrapas (Shaka dynasty). His rule is significant for the Junagadh inscription that records the repair of the Sudarshana lake in Gujarat.
Step 2: Historical context.
The Sudarshana lake, originally constructed during the Mauryan period, had broken down due to floods. Rudradaman I carried out repairs in the 2nd century AD and issued the Junagadh inscription in Sanskrit.
Step 3: Elimination of options.
- (A) First Century AD: Too early, not correct.
- (B) Second Century AD: Correct, the time of Rudradaman I.
- (C) Third Century AD: Later than Rudradaman’s reign.
- (D) Fourth Century AD: Also too late.
Conclusion: Rudradaman belonged to the Second Century AD.