Question

Which of these is not the title of Chandragupta Maurya?
A. Palibothros
B. Amitraghata
C. Priyadarshana
D. Androcottus

Answer 1

Hint: Chandra Gupta Maurya was the founder of the Mauryan empire dethroning the last Nanda ruler Dhananand. It was all done with help of Kautilya (Vishnugupta Chanakya) in occupying Patliputra around 322 BCE.

Complete answer: Chandragupta became the first ruler to bring most of the northern part of Indian subcontinent under his control. He did this through regulating the administration work making the decision making totally centralized. A very important practice was of espionage reporting directly to king himself, ensuring adherence to laws and regulations. Chandragupta Maurya had references made to him in various foreign sources too, mostly Greeks especially when Alexander invasions were contemporary to his times.
Option-A.Megasthenes was a Greek ambassador to his court, and he used the word Palibothros in his work ‘Indica’ to describe a town at the junction of river Ganges and Erannoboas (Yamuna) and thus points toward Patliputra. Therefore, this title of Palibothros was used to refer to Chandragupta as ruler of that land.
Option-B.Amitraghata is a Sanskritic term that used to refer to the second Mauryan emperor, Bindusara. This title meant slayer of enemies and was incorporated in Greek text too as Amitrochates.
Option-C.Mudra-rakshasa, a play from around 8th c. refers to Chandragupta’s various epithets as Priyadarshana or Piadamsana, Vrishala, etc.
Option-D.Greek ruler Seleucus Nikator gave his daughter in marriage to an Indian ruler Androcottus according to Greek writer Strabo. This directly corroborates with Chandragupta Maurya I. Androcottus is also referred to as Sandrocottus.

Hence, the option B is correct.

Note: Chandragupta Maurya despite establishing a very strong empire was referred as a Shudra in the Puranas. Even other sources are debating his origins with few relating him to ‘Moriya’ tribe, a low caste one, while others placed him from an area full of peacocks ‘Mor’. Later day Junagarh Rock Inscription of Rudradaman referred to Chandragupta Maurya as a Vaishya.