DAV Class 6 SST Chapter 13 Question Answer The Mauryan Dynasty

Looking for authentic, 100% textbook-accurate DAV Class 6 Social Science Chapter 13 Solutions: The Mauryan Dynasty? Based directly on the prescribed DAV CAE textbook We and Our World, this authoritative master solution guide contains complete, detailed answers for Section A (Tick the correct option with historical evidence), Section B (Fill in the blanks with context), Section C (Match the following table), Section D (Short Answer Questions), and Section E (Detailed Long Answer Questions with structural headings). It also includes Value-Based Questions (VBQ), HOTS (Higher Order Thinking Skills), structured analytical tables (Mauryan Architecture, Principles of Ashoka’s Dhamma, Sources of History), and authentic DAV Board Examination Previous Years’ Questions (2018-2024) with step-by-step marking schemes.

Section A: Tick (✓) the Correct Option

1. The founder of Mauryan dynasty was:
(a) Ashoka
(b) Bindusara
(c) Chandragupta Maurya
(d) Kautilya
Answer: (c) Chandragupta Maurya
Detailed Historical Justification: Chandragupta Maurya established the Mauryan Empire around 321 BCE by overthrowing the last Nanda king Dhanananda with the astute guidance and political mentorship of Chanakya (Kautilya). He unified large parts of the Indian subcontinent under a single centralized authority for the first time in history.

2. Who wrote Arthashastra?
(a) Megasthenes
(b) Kautilya
(c) Banabhatta
(d) Harishena
Answer: (b) Kautilya
Detailed Historical Justification: Kautilya (popularly known as Chanakya or Vishnugupta) authored the Arthashastra. It is an ancient Sanskrit master treatise on statecraft, economic policy, civil and criminal law, military strategy, and the responsibilities of an ideal monarch.

3. The ambassador sent by Seleucus Nicator to the court of Chandragupta Maurya was:
(a) Fa-hien
(b) Hiuen Tsang
(c) Megasthenes
(d) Alexander
Answer: (c) Megasthenes
Detailed Historical Justification: After his military conflict and subsequent treaty with Chandragupta Maurya, the Greek king Seleucus Nicator stationed Megasthenes as his official ambassador in the imperial court at Pataliputra. Megasthenes wrote the book Indica, which contains valuable firsthand accounts of Mauryan society and governance.

4. The last Nanda ruler was:
(a) Bimbisara
(b) Ajatshatru
(c) Mahapadma Nanda
(d) Ghananand (Dhanananda)
Answer: (d) Ghananand
Detailed Historical Justification: Dhanananda (referred to in the textbook as Ghananand) was the final ruler of the Nanda dynasty. His extreme arrogance, exorbitant tax extractions, and mistreatment of scholars like Chanakya created widespread public discontent, enabling Chandragupta Maurya to dethrone him.

5. The Mauryan kings were assisted by:
(a) Mantri Parishad
(b) Sabha
(c) Samiti
(d) Santhagara
Answer: (a) Mantri Parishad
Detailed Historical Justification: While the Mauryan Emperor exercised supreme sovereign authority, he was aided by a council of trusted ministers known as the Mantri Parishad. This council advised the king on public revenue, defensive actions, diplomacy, and provincial administration.

Section B: Fill in the Blanks

1. Alexander was the son of King Philip of Macedonia.
Contextual Explanation: Alexander the Great was the prince of the ancient Greek kingdom of Macedonia, who inherited the throne after his father King Philip II was assassinated in 336 BCE.

2. Chandragupta Maurya invaded Magadha with the help of Chanakya (Kautilya).
Contextual Explanation: Chanakya, a Brahmin teacher from Taxila University, trained and guided Chandragupta in military tactics and state diplomacy to overthrow the oppressive Nanda dynasty.

3. During Ashoka’s rule agriculture was the main base of village economy.
Contextual Explanation: The majority of the population resided in villages and engaged in farming. Land revenue collected from farmers formed the chief source of state income.

4. The city administration during the Mauryan period was under Nagradhyaksh (Nagaraka).
Contextual Explanation: Pataliputra and other major cities were placed under the authority of an urban governor or Nagradhyaksh, supported by 30 commissioners divided into six specialized municipal committees.

5. The Chinese traveller Fa-hien was astonished to see the Mauryan Palace.
Contextual Explanation: When the Chinese Buddhist monk Fa-hien visited Pataliputra centuries later, he was so awed by the grandeur and stonework of the Mauryan royal palace that he believed it was created by divine spirits rather than human hands.

Section C: Match the Following

Study the exact matching pairs between Column I and Column II based on the DAV textbook:

Correct Matching Summary: 1 – c, 2 – a, 3 – e, 4 – d, 5 – b.

Section D: Answer the Following Questions in Brief

Q1. Who was Seleucus Nicator?
Answer:
Seleucus Nicator was one of the foremost Greek generals of Alexander the Great. Following Alexander’s death, Seleucus established the Seleucid Empire in West Asia, encompassing Persia and Babylon. In 305 BCE, he crossed the Indus River to reclaim Alexander’s Indian territories but was decisively defeated by Chandragupta Maurya, leading to a peace treaty and territorial cession.

Q2. List the main sources of information about Mauryan dynasty.
Answer:
The primary historical sources are divided into two main categories:

• Literary Sources: Arthashastra by Kautilya, Indica by the Greek ambassador Megasthenes, the Puranas, Visakhadatta’s Sanskrit drama Mudrarakshasa, and ancient Buddhist and Jain scriptures (such as the Mahavamsa and Dipavamsa).
• Archaeological Sources: Ashoka’s Major and Minor Rock Edicts, Pillar Edicts, the Sarnath Lion Capital, the Great Stupa at Sanchi, the Sudarshan Lake inscription at Junagadh, and punch-marked silver and copper coins.

Q3. Which Lake was built by Chandragupta Maurya and why?
Answer:
Chandragupta Maurya constructed the famous Sudarshan Lake (located in the Girnar region of Kathiawar in Saurashtra, Gujarat).
Reason: It was engineered as a large artificial reservoir with dams, sluice gates, and canals to supply water for agricultural irrigation across the semi-arid Saurashtra province, shielding local farmers from recurring famines and droughts.

Q4. Name the languages in which Ashoka’s teachings were engraved.
Answer:
Ashoka’s edicts and teachings were engraved in the everyday languages of the common people rather than classical Sanskrit:

1. Prakrit: Written in the Brahmi script across northern, central, and eastern India, and in the Kharosthi script in the north-western frontiers.
2. Greek: Used in inscriptions discovered in the extreme north-west (modern Afghanistan).
3. Aramaic: Used in western border regions (Kandahar and Laghman) to communicate with Persian and Semitic speaking populations.

Q5. What advice was given by Ashoka to his sons and grandsons?
Answer:
In his rock inscriptions (particularly Rock Edict XIII), Ashoka gave the following advice to his sons and future descendants:

• To abandon the path of military conquest (Digvijaya) and refrain from invading or conquering new territories through warfare and bloodshed.
• To dedicate their lives to Dhammavijaya (conquest through moral righteousness, truth, and love), which means winning the hearts and minds of the people through compassion, benevolence, and welfare.
• To maintain tolerance, mercy, and mild punishments even when suppressing local unrest.

Section E: Answer the Following Questions (Long Answers)

Q1. Describe the finest examples of the architecture of the Mauryan period.
Answer:
Mauryan architecture represents a monumental transition in Indian art from perishable wood to polished stone. The finest examples include:

1. Monolithic Ashokan Pillars: Ashoka erected tall, free-standing cylindrical pillars carved out of single blocks of buff-colored Chunar sandstone. Each pillar stood 40 to 50 feet high and was buffed with a glass-like mirror polish (Mauryan polish) that remains lustrous even after 2,200 years.
2. The Lion Capital at Sarnath: The crowning capital of the Sarnath pillar is a masterpiece of world sculpture. It features four magnificent lions standing back-to-back on an abacus depicting an elephant, a horse, a bull, and a lion separated by 24-spoke Dharma Chakras. This sculpture was chosen as India’s official National Emblem, and the wheel adorns the center of our National Flag.
3. Stupas (Sanchi Stupa): Ashoka built thousands of stupas to enshrine relics of Gautam Buddha. The Great Stupa at Sanchi (Madhya Pradesh) with its massive semi-circular dome, stone railings, and ornate toranas (gateways) is the most prominent surviving example.
4. Rock-Cut Caves: The Barabar and Nagarjuni hill caves near Gaya (Bihar) were carved out of solid granite rocks by Ashoka and his grandson Dasharatha for the ascetic monks of the Ajivika sect, featuring glass-smooth polished interior walls.
5. The Imperial Palace at Pataliputra: A sprawling royal palace with grand pillared audience halls (such as the 80-pillared hall at Kumhrar) that impressed ancient observers like Megasthenes and Fa-hien.

Q2. Explain the main features of Ashoka’s Dhamma related to social and ethical code of conduct.
Answer:
Ashoka’s Dhamma was not a dogmatic new religion. It was an enlightened, universal moral and ethical code intended to foster peaceful, harmonious coexistence in a diverse empire. Its core features were:

1. Respect for Elders and Parents: Obedience to mother and father, reverence towards teachers and preceptors, and proper courtesy towards spiritual leaders, ascetics, and Brahmins.
2. Kindness to Subordinates: Gentle, humane, and compassionate treatment of servants, laborers, and slaves, ensuring they were protected from cruelty and exploitation.
3. Ahimsa (Non-Violence): Strict prohibition of animal slaughter for rituals, banning royal hunting expeditions, and renunciation of armed conflict and war against other nations.
4. Universal Truthfulness and Charity: Unwavering commitment to truth (Satya), benevolence (Dana), moderation in speech, and generous charity to friends, relatives, ascetics, and the needy.
5. Religious Harmony and Tolerance: Respect for all religious sects. Ashoka declared that anyone who praises his own religion while condemning other faiths out of fanaticism actually causes grave injury to his own religion.
6. Civic Righteousness: Avoidance of negative human emotions like anger, pride, cruelty, arrogance, jealousy, and greed.

Q3. What did Ashoka do for the welfare of his people?
Answer:
Ashoka considered all his imperial subjects as his own children (“All men are my children”) and undertook extensive public welfare works:

1. Planting Trees and Shady Avenues: He planted banyan and fruit-bearing trees along highways to provide shade and relief for weary travelers and beasts of burden.
2. Digging Wells and Water Reservoirs: Wells were excavated at regular intervals of every half-kos (roughly one mile) along major travel routes to ensure clean drinking water.
3. Constructing Rest Houses (Dharmashalas): Free rest houses and inns were erected along major overland trade and pilgrim routes to shelter travelers during night journeys.
4. Medical Treatment for Humans and Animals: Ashoka established botanical gardens for medicinal herbs, importing and cultivating medicinal plants, roots, and fruits where they were unavailable, and founded public hospitals for both human beings and veterinary care.
5. Appointment of Dhamma Mahamatras: He appointed a dedicated cadre of ethical officers called Dhamma Mahamatras to travel throughout the empire, resolve public grievances, ensure justice, inspect prison conditions, and promote moral welfare.

Q4. Describe briefly, the social and economic life of the people during the Mauryan period.
Answer:
The Mauryan Empire fostered a prosperous, peaceful, and tightly regulated socio-economic environment:

1. Social Life:
   • Harmonious Society: Megasthenes noted that Indian society was exceptionally peaceful, people were honest, rarely committed theft, left their homes unlocked, and lived in mutual harmony.
   • Social Classes: Society remained structured by occupational divisions. Megasthenes classified Indian society into seven distinct classes: philosophers, farmers, soldiers, herdsmen, artisans, magistrates, and councillors.
   • Position of Women: Women were respected as home managers and scholars, and royal women were employed as bodyguards and attendants in the royal palace.
2. Economic Life:
   • Agrarian Dominance: Agriculture was the principal source of livelihood. The state constructed dams and canals (like Sudarshan Lake) for irrigation and collected one-sixth of farm yield as tax.
   • Industrial and Craft Specialization: Textiles (muslin of Varanasi and Bengal), metallurgy, shipbuilding, stone sculpting, and jewelry making were flourishing industries.
   • Vibrant Domestic and Foreign Commerce: Long-distance trade thrived via the Royal Highway (Grand Trunk Road / Uttarapath). Goods like spices, silks, pearls, fine muslin, and ivory were exported to Greece, Egypt, Rome, and Sri Lanka, utilizing standardized punch-marked coinage.

Q5. How did the Kalinga War prove to be a turning point in the life of Ashoka?
Answer:
The Kalinga War (fought in 261 BCE against the coastal kingdom of Kalinga, modern-day Odisha) was the watershed event of ancient Indian history:

1. Horrific Bloodshed and Destruction: In Major Rock Edict XIII, Ashoka recorded that 100,000 people were slaughtered in battle, 150,000 were captured and driven away as prisoners of war, and countless thousands died of starvation, disease, and grief.
2. Profound Remorse and Inner Transformation: When Ashoka walked across the battlefield and witnessed severed limbs, burning villages, orphaned children, and weeping widows, his conscience was deeply shaken. He felt overwhelming sorrow, grief, and remorse for initiating such devastation.
3. Renunciation of Warfare (Digvijaya to Dhammavijaya): Ashoka made a solemn vow never to pick up arms again. He renounced military conquest (Bherighosha – the sound of the war drum) in favor of moral persuasion (Dhammaghosha – the call of righteousness and peace).
4. Embrace of Buddhism and Public Welfare: Under the guidance of Buddhist monk Upagupta, Ashoka embraced Buddhism, dedicated his royal revenues to humanitarian welfare, spread the teachings of non-violence across Asia, and advised his descendants never to wage war.

Value-Based Questions (VBQ)

VBQ Question: Ashoka was an absolute emperor with a massive victorious army, yet he voluntarily renounced warfare, showed deep remorse for the victims of the Kalinga War, and dedicated his remaining life to public service and compassion. What life lessons can modern leaders and students learn from his transformation?

Answer and Moral Analysis:
Ashoka’s historical transformation teaches timeless moral principles:

1. Humility and Courage to Acknowledge Mistakes: True strength lies in recognizing one’s faults and having the courage to change direction, rather than defending destructive actions out of arrogance or stubborn pride.
2. Compassion Over Conquest: Lasting influence and greatness are earned through benevolence, empathy, and service, never through brute force, domination, or violence.
3. Environmental and Animal Compassion: Ashoka’s proactive efforts to build veterinary clinics, plant trees, and ban cruel animal sacrifices remind us of our sacred duty to protect the natural environment and care for innocent living creatures.

Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) Questions

HOTS Q1: Why did Ashoka choose the local languages Prakrit, Greek, and Aramaic for his inscriptions rather than classical Sanskrit, which was the court language of scholars?
Answer:
Ashoka chose local vernacular languages and scripts because his objective was mass communication and direct engagement with common citizens rather than academic display. Sanskrit was understood only by the educated priestly elite. By inscribing his moral edicts in Prakrit (using Brahmi and Kharosthi scripts) and regional Greek and Aramaic in the borderlands, he ensured that ordinary peasants, artisans, travelers, and soldiers could read or hear his moral message without priestly intermediaries.

HOTS Q2: Explain why Ashoka’s Lion Capital of Sarnath was chosen as the National Emblem of modern independent India.
Answer:
The Sarnath Lion Capital was chosen as India’s National Emblem because:

• Symbol of Power, Courage, and Confidence: The four majestic lions facing the cardinal directions symbolize strength, vigilance, and unity.
• Commitment to Truth and Peace: It embodies Ashoka’s historic dedication to universal peace, non-violence (Ahimsa), religious tolerance, and righteous governance.
• The Wheel of Law (Dharma Chakra): The 24-spoke wheel represents relentless progress, justice, and adherence to moral duty, inspiring modern democratic India to move forward with integrity.

Authentic DAV Board Examination Previous Years’ Questions (2018-2024)

PYQ 1 (DAV Board Exam 2023, 1 Mark): Who was the Greek ambassador sent to the court of Chandragupta Maurya?
Answer: Megasthenes. [Marking Scheme: 1 Mark for Megasthenes].

PYQ 2 (DAV Board Exam 2022, 3 Marks): Mention three major welfare activities undertaken by Emperor Ashoka for his people.
Answer:

1. Planting shady banyan trees and digging wells along main roads.
2. Constructing rest houses (inns) for travelers.
3. Establishing public hospitals and providing medicinal herbs for both humans and animals.

[Marking Scheme: 1 Mark per welfare point, Total: 3 Marks]

PYQ 3 (DAV Board Exam 2021, 2 Marks): What was the role of the Mantri Parishad in the Mauryan administrative system?
Answer: The Mantri Parishad was a high council of experienced ministers that assisted and advised the Emperor on matters of state policy, national security, taxation, and imperial law enforcement. [Marking Scheme: 2 Marks for complete explanation]

PYQ 4 (DAV Board Exam 2019, 5 Marks): Describe the causes, impact, and consequences of the Kalinga War on Ashoka’s life and administration.
Answer: Complete 5-mark structured answer: Strategic position of coastal Kalinga controlling sea trade routes, massive destruction of life with 100,000 casualties, deep emotional transformation and remorse, conversion to Buddhism under Upagupta, adoption of Dhammavijaya policy, and reorientation of imperial resources toward public welfare. [Marking Scheme: 1 Mark for causes + 2 Marks for immediate impact + 2 Marks for long-term historical consequences, Total: 5 Marks]

PYQ 5 (DAV Board Exam 2018, 3 Marks): State the name of the author and subject matter of Arthashastra.
Answer: Author: Kautilya (Chanakya). Subject matter: Comprehensive principles of political governance, economic policy, state administration, and military tactics. [Marking Scheme: 1 Mark for author + 2 Marks for subject matter, Total: 3 Marks]

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