✅ Answer: B) 2 and 3 onlyStatements 2 and 3 are correct. Dhamma Mahamatras were appointed (Rock Edict V). Ashoka sent missionaries to Sri Lanka, Syria, Egypt, Macedonia, and Cyrene. Statement 1 is incorrect — Ashoka’s Dhamma was NOT identical to Buddhism. It was a universal ethical code for all subjects regardless of religion.

✅ Answer: C) Mundaka Upanishad“Satyameva Jayate” (Truth alone triumphs) is from the Mundaka Upanishad (3.1.6). It was adopted as India’s national motto along with the Sarnath Lion Capital as the National Emblem on January 26, 1950. The Mundaka Upanishad is one of the principal Upanishads associated with the Atharvaveda.

✅ Answer: B) Statecraft, economics, and military strategyThe Arthashastra is a comprehensive treatise on statecraft (rajniti), economics (artha), and military strategy. It has 15 books covering administration, taxation, diplomacy, espionage, war, and governance. It describes the ideal state and provides practical advice for rulers. It was rediscovered by R. Shamasastry in 1904.

✅ Answer: B) Rock Edict VRock Edict V mentions the appointment of Dhamma Mahamatras — special officials appointed to propagate Dhamma among all sections of society. Rock Edict I bans animal sacrifice. Rock Edict XIII describes Kalinga War remorse. Rock Edict XII promotes religious tolerance.

✅ Answer: B) Wooden walls and 570 towersMegasthenes described Pataliputra as a magnificent city with wooden walls, 570 towers, and 64 gates. He compared it favourably to Persian palaces at Susa and Ecbatana. The wooden construction explains why little of the palace survives. Excavations at Kumrahar (Patna) revealed an 80-pillar hall.

✅ Answer: C) First edict to mention “Ashoka”The Maski Minor Rock Edict (Karnataka) is the first edict to mention the name “Ashoka” directly. All other edicts use the title “Devanampiya Piyadassi.” The discovery of the Maski edict helped historians conclusively identify Devanampiya Piyadassi as Ashoka the Mauryan emperor.

✅ Answer: B) 1/6 of produceThe Mauryan land revenue (Bhaga) was typically 1/6 of agricultural produce. This was the standard rate mentioned in the Arthashastra. In addition to Bhaga, there were other taxes: Bali (religious tax), Shulka (customs), and Kara (tax on artisans). The state also owned mines, forests, and industries.

✅ Answer: B) AmitraghataBindusara (297–268 BCE) was known as “Amitraghata” (Slayer of Enemies) in Sanskrit and “Amitrochates” in Greek sources. He expanded the Mauryan Empire southward. He maintained diplomatic relations with the Seleucid Empire and Egypt. He was the father of Ashoka.

✅ Answer: B) Greek and AramaicThe Kandahar Edict (Afghanistan) is written in Greek and Aramaic — showing the extent of the Mauryan Empire into Afghanistan and the multilingual nature of Ashoka’s administration. It demonstrates that Ashoka communicated with his Greek-speaking subjects in their own language. This edict is evidence of Mauryan empire’s western extent.

✅ Answer: C) Sallekhana (Santhara)Chandragupta Maurya died by Sallekhana (also called Santhara) — the Jain practice of voluntarily fasting unto death. It is considered a sacred death in Jainism — a conscious, peaceful departure from life. Chandragupta practised Sallekhana at Shravanabelagola (Karnataka) under the guidance of Jain monk Bhadrabahu.