Question

The only ruler of India who ruled over territories in Central Asia beyond the Pamirs was____.
A. Kanishka
B. Ashoka
C. Samudragupta
D. Harsha

Answer 1

Hint: Kanishka was the ruler of the Kushan Dynasty. He was one of the greatest kings of his time and ruled major parts of the Indian subcontinent. Ashoka, also called Ashoka the Great, was the king of the Mauryan empire who ruled major parts of the Indian subcontinent. Samudragupta was the ruler of the Gupta empire. Harsha also known as Harshavardhana was the ruler of the Vardhana Dynasty.

Complete answer: The above question deals with the greatest rulers belonging to different periods of history.
-Talking about the greatest king, Kanishka. He ruled between the period of 127 to 144 CE. Most of his information comes from Chinese sources, particularly Buddhist teachings. Through inheritance, he conquered Bukhara, Patna, Ganges valley and from Pamirs to central India, Afghanistan to Central Asia. He made Purushapura his capital. It is believed that contact between Kanishka and Chinese in Central Asia may have led to the transmission of Indian ideas of Buddhism to China.
-Ashoka the last major ruler of the Mauryan dynasty ruled between the period of 268 c. to 232 BCE.
According to his accounts when Ashoka conquered the Kalinga, it resulted in the bloodshed. Several people were affected which moved him to such remorse that he renounced armed conquest and adopted a policy called ‘conquest by dharma’. It was this time he adopted Buddhism. He ruled Afghanistan to Bangladesh, Tamilnadu, Karnataka and Kerala.
-Samudragupta was the ruler of the Gupta empire from the period of 330 to 380 BC. He expanded his empire to Allahabad, to the borders of Bengal and some areas of Delhi. At the peak of his rule, he controlled the Ganges river and received homage in various parts of India.
-Harsha or king Harshavardhan belonged to the Vardhana Dynasty. He in his life embraced Mahayana Buddhism. He controlled much of the parts of North and Northwestern India till Kamarupa and South until River Narmada.
Therefore with the above explanation, the correct answer will be option-A.

Note: Ashoka during his reign made Patliputra his capital and Taxila and Ujjain his provincial capitals.
-Samudragupta was the son of King Chandragupta I, don't get confused with Chandragupta Maurya who was the founder of Mauryan Empire.
-Vardhana Dynasty was also called Pushyabhuti.