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Harisena and Harsha: Correcting Historical Mismatches

The pair Harisena-Harsha is incorrect. Harisena was the court poet of Samudragupta, while the court poet of Harsha was Banabhatta.

Primary Reference: NCERT Class XII - Themes in Indian History Part 1

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Which one of the following pairs is not correctly matched?

[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1997]

Detailed Solution & Historical Context

Concept


Associating the correct intellectual figures with their royal patrons is essential for mapping the cultural geography of ancient India.

Authentic Source Evidence


Harisena was the court poet and minister of Samudragupta (Gupta Emperor), not Harsha. Harsha's court poet was Banabhatta, the author of Harshacharita.

Analytical Breakdown


  • Logic 1 (Mismatch): Harisena is famous for the Prayag Prashasti of the 4th Century; Harsha ruled in the 7th Century.

  • Logic 2 (Correct): Ravi Kirti composed the Aihole inscription for the Chalukya king Pulakeshin II.

  • Logic 3 (Correct): Bhavabhuti was at the court of Yasovarman of Kannauj and wrote Malatimadhava.

  • Logic 4 (Correct): Dandi was the poet for the Pallava king Narasimha Varman and wrote Dashakumaracharita.

    • Conceptual Deep Dive & Logic

    "Who was the actual court poet of King Harsha?"

    The court poet of King Harsha was Banabhatta, who wrote the biographical work Harshacharita.

    Examiner's Mindset & Pro-Tip

    "These literary figures were not just poets but also political chroniclers whose works provide the primary skeletal framework for ancient Indian chronology."

    Topic Clusters (click to see related topic questions)

    Banabhatta 3Prayag Prashasti 6
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