Kings Farmers And Towns

Chronologically arranged:
• (E) Ashtadhyayi of Panini — 6th to 4th century BCE
• (C) Manusmriti — 2nd century BCE to 3rd century CE
• (A) Charaka and Sushruta Samhitas — 1st to 2nd century CE
• (B) Natyashastra of Bharata — 2nd century CE
• (D) Sanskrit plays of Kalidasa — 4th to 5th century CE

The Gandatindu Jataka is a tale from the Jataka stories, which are a voluminous body of literature native to India concerning the previous births of Gautama Buddha. In this story, the suffering of people under the rule of a wicked king is portrayed vividly. It serves as a moral narrative emphasizing righteous leadership.

- Option (B) is correct: Magadha, Koshala, Kuru, and Panchala are well-known Mahajanapadas.
- Option (E) is also correct: Vatsa, Chedi, Gandhara, and Avanti are historically recognized Mahajanapadas.
- Option (A) includes Banawali, which was not a Mahajanapada.
- Option (C) incorrectly includes “Afgan”.
- Option (D) includes powerful southern kingdoms but they are not among the 16 Mahajanapadas.

James Prinsep was a British antiquarian and scholar who made a significant breakthrough in the 1830s by deciphering two of the most ancient Indian scripts — Brahmi and Kharosthi. These scripts were found on various stone inscriptions, coins, and pillars, particularly those belonging to Emperor Ashoka. His work laid the foundation for the study of early Indian history and inscriptions.