Who among the following rulers advised his subjects through this inscription?"Whosoever praises his

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UPSC Prelims is a competitive examination conducted in India. This question is from the 2020 UPSC Prelims History paper.

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Question

Who among the following rulers advised his subjects through this inscription?"Whosoever praises his religious sect or blames other sects out of excessive devotion to his own sect, with the view of glorifying his own sect, he rather injures his own sect very severely."

Accepted Answer

Correct Answer: A — AshokaStep-by-step Solution:The quotation is from Rock Edict XII of Emperor Ashoka (c. 268-232 BCE). In this edict, Ashoka advocates religious tolerance, respect for all sects, and warns against praising one’s own religion while condemning others. This reflects his policy of Dhamma (righteousness). ✓Why other options are incorrect:Option B (Samudragupta): Known for the Allahabad Pillar inscription describing his military conquests (Prayag Prashasti).Option C (Harshavardhana): His court poet Bana wrote Harshacharita; he was a patron of Buddhism but no such edict.Option D (Krishnadeva Raya): Vijayanagara emperor, patron of literature, not known for such religious tolerance inscriptions.Key Concept: Ashoka’s edicts are found on pillars and rocks across the subcontinent. They are written in Prakrit (Brahmi script) in most regions. Major Rock Edict XII is also known as the "Edict on Religious Tolerance". This shows Ashoka’s commitment to peace and harmony.

Who among the following rulers advised his subjects through this inscription?"Whosoever praises his religious sect or blames other sects out of excessive devotion to his own sect, with the view of glorifying his own sect, he rather injures his own sect very severely."

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Who among the following rulers advised his subjects through this inscription?"Whosoever praises his religious sect or blames other sects out of excessive devotion to his own sect, with the view of glorifying his own sect, he rather injures his own sect very severely."

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More Questions from Mauryan Empire – Administration, Economy & Ashoka

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