CAPF 2017

Gupta Imperial Diplomacy

Authentic Past Paper Standard Evaluation

Which one of the following statements about Allahabad Prashasti is correct?

Solution & Analysis

Answer: A

Concept The Allahabad Prashasti is a sophisticated political map that defines the different grades of relationships between the central Gupta authority and various regional powers.

Explanation Statement A is the most conceptually accurate. The inscription (Prayag Prashasti) identifies distinct categories of rulers: those violently exterminated (*Prasabhoddharana*), those captured and released (*Grahana-Moksha-Anugraha*), and those on the frontiers paying tribute.

Logical Breakup
Logic 1: It portrays Samudragupta not just as a conqueror, but as the supreme lord to whom diverse kings (from the forest tribes to the Kushans) owe different forms of allegiance.
Logic 2: The numbering of specific lines (Options B, C, D) in competitive exams often serves as distractors unless matched with exact verse content; the core takeaway is the complex political web.
Logic 3: Harisena’s composition is the primary source for Samudragupta’s 'Chakravartin' status.

Active Recall

Question

What were the three main categories of rulers mentioned in the Prashasti?

Answer

The rulers of Aryavarta (uprooted), Dakshinapatha (reinstated), and Frontier/Tribal kings (tributary).

Core Insight

The Allahabad Prashasti shows that the Gupta 'Empire' was not a uniform administrative unit but a layered system of suzerainty.