Q. With reference to ancient India (600–322 BC), consider the following pairs:
| Territorial region | River flowing in the region |
|---|---|
| I. Asmaka | Godavari |
| II. Kamboja | Vipas |
| III. Avanti | Mahanadi |
| IV. Kosala | Sarayu |
How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) Only three
(d) All the four
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Answer & Explanation:
✅Correct Answer: (c) Only three
Explanation:
The question is based on the territorial regions and the rivers flowing through them during ancient India (600–322 BCE). Let’s evaluate each pair:
I. Asmaka – Godavari ✅
Correct.
Asmaka (also known as Assaka) was one of the 16 Mahajanapadas located in the southern part of India, around modern-day Telangana and Maharashtra. It lay along the Godavari River, which was vital for its agriculture and trade.
II. Kamboja – Vipas ❌
Incorrect.
Kamboja was located in the far northwest of the Indian subcontinent, possibly in present-day Afghanistan or parts of northwestern Pakistan. The river Vipas (modern-day Beas) flows in the Punjab region of India, which was not traditionally associated with Kamboja. Hence, this pair is mismatched.
III. Avanti – Mahanadi ❌
Incorrect.
Avanti was one of the prominent Mahajanapadas and was located in present-day Madhya Pradesh, particularly around Ujjain. The main river associated with Avanti was the Narmada River, not the Mahanadi. The Mahanadi flows through Chhattisgarh and Odisha, which lies east of Avanti’s region. So, this pair is also mismatched.
IV. Kosala – Sarayu ✅
Correct.
Kosala was located in present-day eastern Uttar Pradesh with Ayodhya as one of its main cities. The Sarayu River flowed through this region and is even mentioned in ancient texts like the Ramayana. Thus, this pair is correctly matched.
Summary:
- Correct pairs:
I. Asmaka – Godavari
IV. Kosala – Sarayu - Incorrect pairs:
II. Kamboja – Vipas
III. Avanti – Mahanadi
Therefore, only two pairs are correctly matched.
However, the answer option (c) says “Only three,” which would be incorrect based on this analysis.
✅ The correct answer should actually be: (b) Only two