[Solved] Rulers of the Gurjara-Pratihara Dynasty | List

Which of the following rulers does not belong to Gurjara-Pratihar dynasty?

[R.A.S./R.T.S. Prelims 2018]

Detailed Solution & Historical Context

Concept

Correctly identifying the king-lists of early medieval dynasties is essential for understanding the Tripartite struggle and the transition to the Rajput era.

Authentic Source Evidence

Nagabhatta-II, Mahendrapal-I, and Devapal-I are all well-documented rulers of the Gurjara-Pratihara dynasty of Kannauj. Bharatrabhatta-I (Option D) does not belong to this imperial line; he is associated with the Guhila dynasty of Mewar.

Analytical Breakdown

Logic 1: Nagabhatta II (A) rebuilt the empire; Mahendrapal I (B) was a patron of the poet Rajashekhara; and Devapal I (C) ruled during the late 10th century.

Logic 2: Bharatrabhatta-I was a local ruler in the Rajasthan region belonging to a different Rajput clan, illustrating the contemporary diversity of Rajput principalities.

Conceptual Deep Dive & Logic

"Which poet was associated with the Pratihara court?"

The famous poet and critic Rajashekhara was the guru and court poet of Mahendrapal I and his son Mahipala.

Examiner's Mindset & Pro-Tip

"The Pratiharas acted as the 'door-keepers' of India, successfully halting Arab expansion for nearly three centuries."

Topic Clusters (click to see related topic questions)

Analysing authentic R.A.S./R.T.S. Prelimsprevious year questions is non-negotiable for serious aspirants. Thoroughly decoding past exam trends related to The Gurjara-Pratihara Empire helps you understand the examiner's mindset. Mastering specific entities like Gurjara-Pratihara kings and Nagabhatta II builds the analytical intuition needed to clear the exam. Practice Previous Year Questions here →