[Solved] Inscription proving Chandragupta's Rule in West India

The Inscription which proves Chandragupta's sway over western India is:

[UPSC CSE Prelims 1993, Paper I]

Detailed Solution & Historical Context

Concept

Inscriptions by later rulers often contain historical records of their predecessors' administrative works in the same region.

Authentic Source Evidence

The Junagarh inscription of the Saka ruler Rudradaman I (150 CE) mentions that the Sudarshana lake was originally constructed by Pushyagupta, the provincial governor of Chandragupta Maurya.

Analytical Breakdown

Logic 1: This is the only inscription that explicitly links Chandragupta Maurya to the administration of Saurashtra (Western India).

Logic 2: Kalinga inscriptions focus on the East; Ashoka's edicts in Girnar/Sopara focus on Dhamma rather than Chandragupta's conquests.

Conceptual Deep Dive & Logic

"What does the history of Sudarshana Lake tell us about Mauryan engineering?"

It shows that the Mauryas had a dedicated department for irrigation and water management, reaching as far as the semi-arid western coast.

Examiner's Mindset & Pro-Tip

"The Junagarh inscription is a unique document that spans centuries of history, mentioning Chandragupta, Ashoka, Rudradaman, and later Skandagupta."

Topic Clusters (click to see related topic questions)

Sudarshana Lake 6 Saurashtra 3 Saka Kshatrapas 4

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