With reference to ancient India (600-322 BC), consider the following pairs:
How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched? Territorial Region — River flowing in the region; I. Asmaka — Godavari; II. Kamboj — Vipas; III. Avanti — Mahanadi; IV. Kosala — Sarayu

Correct Answer:

(b) Only two

Explanation of the Correct Answer:

Let’s examine each territorial region and its associated river in historical and geographical context:

Pair I: Asmaka — Godavari

→ Correct

• Asmaka (or Assaka) was a Mahajanapada located in the Deccan region, mainly around present-day Maharashtra and Telangana.
• The Godavari River flowed through this region.
• It was the only southern Mahajanapada mentioned among the original 16.

Pair II: Kamboj — Vipas

→ Incorrect

• Kamboja was located in the north-western frontier of ancient India, near modern-day Afghanistan/Pakistan.
• The Vipas (modern Beas River) flowed through Punjab, not Kamboja.
• Kamboja was closer to rivers like the Kabul or Kunar, not Vipas.

Pair III: Avanti — Mahanadi

→ Incorrect

• Avanti was located in western Madhya Pradesh, with Ujjain as its capital.
• The main rivers flowing through Avanti were Chambal and Shipra, not Mahanadi.
• Mahanadi flows through Chhattisgarh and Odisha, far to the east.

Pair IV: Kosala — Sarayu

→ Correct

• Kosala was a prominent Mahajanapada with its capital at Shravasti or Ayodhya in eastern Uttar Pradesh.
• The Sarayu River (a tributary of the Ganga) flows through this region.
• Well-attested in both Buddhist and Hindu texts.

Why Other Options Are Incorrect:

• (a) Only one: Incorrect — two pairs are correct (I and IV).
• (c) Only three: Incorrect — only two are correctly matched.
• (d) All four: Incorrect — only half of the pairs are accurate.

Relevant Supplementary Table:

Historical Context:

• These regions are part of the Mahajanapada period (c. 600–322 BCE), which saw the rise of early kingdoms before the Mauryan Empire.
• Rivers were crucial for urbanization, agriculture, and trade, shaping the development of these early states.

Table: Information About Territorial Regions and Rivers (Ancient India)

Related Concepts:

Table: Ancient Indian Regions and Their Associated Rivers

Summary Insights:

• River proximity shaped settlement patterns, agriculture, and trade.
• Many urban centers arose along rivers (e.g., Varanasi on Ganga, Ujjain on Shipra).
• Rivers were crucial for the cultural and religious identity of these regions.
• The Ganga-Yamuna Doab and Indo-Gangetic Plain formed the political core of ancient India.