Consider the following statements: 1. The last Mauryan ruler, Brihadratha was assassinated by his commander-in-chief, Pushyamitra Sunga. 2. The last Sunga king, Devabhuti, was assassinated by his Brahmana minister Vasudeva Kanva who usurped the throne. 3. The last ruler of the Kanva dynasty was deposed by the Andhras. Which of these statements is/are correct?
UPSC CSE Pre. 2003
A. 1 and 2
B. only 2
C. only 3
D. 1, 2 and 3
Answer: 1, 2 and 3
Option d is the correct answer
Statement 1 is correct: Pushyamitra Sunga overthrew the Mauryan rule and established the Sunga dynasty by assassinating Brihadratha. This event marked the end of the Mauryan dynasty and the beginning of the Sunga dynasty.
Statement 2 is correct: Devabhuti was the last ruler of the Sunga dynasty. He was assassinated by his Brahmana minister Vasudeva Kanva, who then took over the throne and established the Kanva dynasty. This event led to the downfall of the Sunga dynasty.
Statement 3 is correct: The Kanva dynasty was shortlived, and the last ruler of this dynasty was deposed by the Andhras, specifically by the Andhra king Simuka. The Andhras established the Satavahana dynasty, which would go on to become a prominent power in ancient South India.