Question

The Junagarh rock inscription of Rudradaman says that a dam on the Sudarshan lake for irrigation was constructed by __________.
1. Skandagupta
2. Pushyagupta
3. Bhanugupta
4. Chandragupta Vikramaditya

Answer 1

Hint: The Junagarh rock inscription was built for checking floods and to provide information about the Sudarshan lake that the lake was an artificial reservoir. The Junagarh rock inscription of Rudradaman was also known as the Girnar Rock inscription of Rudradaman.

Complete answer:
From the era of Chandragupt maurya to the time when inscription was written, the first eight lines of historical record of water management and irrigation conduits at Sudarshan Lake. This lake is constructed at Junagadh Gujarat. These preserved are found near Girnar hill, junagadh.
This lake was built as the king wanted the best irrigation facilities in his kingdom and to control over his citizens. In 150 AD, the Shaka ruler Rudradaman I repaired the lake and under Skandagupta’s rule (415AD – 455AD) the lake was again repaired by his governor Parramatta.
The Sanskrit edict notes the repairs done by Mahakshtrap Rudraman on the Sudarshan Lake. There are many edicts that speak about the repairs, but during 150 CE, the Sanskrit Junagadh inscription credits rudradaman.
The dam on the Sudarshan lake for irrigation was constructed by Pushyagupta, the governor during the rule of Chandragupta maurya.
Thus, the option 2. Pushyagupta is correct.
Note:These inscriptions by a local governor during the rule of Mauryas mentions the lake, with embankments and water channels. Rudradaman was a ruler and he claimed that he repaired the lake using his own money.