Question

Which of the following sentences in Prashatis could have helped the authors get Brahmdeyas?

• A. He made many changes in the trade policies and increased the treasury due to foreign trade.
• B. He decided to grant more riches to the people affected by famines.
• C. He ascended the throne at the age of fourteen, and ruled the country like a tyrant.
• D. He usurped the throne from his father by staging a rebellion.

Answer 1

Answer: (A), (B)

The correct options are
A He made many changes in the trade policies and increased the treasury due to foreign trade.
B He decided to grant more riches to the people affected by famines.

Prashastis are special kinds of inscriptions that contained glowing praises of the actions of the kings or rulers. These were usually composed by the learned Brahmanas of the time. The Brahamanas were gifted land grants as tokens of appreciation. These land grants were called Brahmadeyas and were recorded on copper plates. The first two statements are praising the king and his deeds. So they would likely help the authors get the Brahmadeya. The last two options do not paint the king in a good light, so those statements would not help the author of the Prashasti much.