Palas and Senas of Bengal MCQ Quiz - Objective Question with Answer for Palas and Senas of Bengal - Download Free PDF

The correct answer is Gopala.

• The Pala Empire was a majestic power during the post-classical period in the Indian subcontinent which emerged in the region of Bengal.

Important Points

• The Pala fortress was located in Bengal and Bihar, which comprises the major cities of Vikrampura, Pataliputra, Gauda, Monghyr, Somapura, Ramvati (Varendra), Tamralipta and Jaggadala.
• The empire reached its heights under the Emperors Dharmapala and Devapala.
• At its peak in the early 9th century, the Pala Empire was the supreme power in the northern Indian subcontinent.
• Emperor Ramapala was the last mighty Pala ruler, who achieve control of Kamarupa and Kalinga during his reign.
• The resurgent Hindu Sena dynasty uncrowns the Pala Empire in the 12th century, ending the rule of the last major Buddhist majestic power in the Indian subcontinent.

The correct answer is - Vigrahpal (Shurpal)

Key Points

• Vigrahpal (Shurpal)
  • Vigrahpal, also known as Shurpal, succeeded Devpal as the ruler of the Pal dynasty in Bengal.
  • The Pal dynasty was a significant ruling dynasty in Bengal, known for their contributions to the region's culture and administration.
  • Vigrahpal continued the legacy of the Pal dynasty, maintaining stability and prosperity in the region.

Additional Information

• Narayanpal
  • Narayanpal was also a notable ruler of the Pal dynasty, but he did not directly succeed Devpal.
  • He is known for his contributions to the cultural and architectural developments in Bengal.
• Veerpal
  • Veerpal was another significant figure in the Pal dynasty, recognized for his valor and administrative skills.
  • Though important, he did not directly follow Devpal as the ruler.
• Nagpal
  • Nagpal was a member of the Pal dynasty, but historical records do not indicate him as the immediate successor of Devpal.
  • His contributions are more obscure compared to other rulers of the Pal dynasty.

The correct answer is: '(a) - (i), (b) - (ii), (c) - (iii), (d) - (iv)'

Key Points

• Dharmapal – Khalimpur inscription
  • This statement is correct.
  • Dharmapal, a prominent ruler of the Pala Dynasty, is known to be associated with the Khalimpur inscription. This inscription provides details about his lineage and contributions.
• Devpal – Munger inscription
  • This statement is correct.
  • Devpal, another significant ruler of the Pala Dynasty, is related to the Munger inscription. The Munger inscription provides valuable insights into his reign and achievements.
• Narayanpal – Bhagalpur inscription
  • This statement is correct.
  • Narayanpal, a ruler of the Kalachuri Dynasty, is associated with the Bhagalpur inscription. This inscription gives information about his rule and the history of the period.
• Mahipal-I – Sarnath inscription
  • This statement is correct.
  • Mahipal-I, another notable ruler of the Pala Dynasty, is linked with the Sarnath inscription. The Sarnath inscription is an essential source of historical information about his reign.

Hence, the correct combination is: (a) - (i), (b) - (ii), (c) - (iii), (d) - (iv).

Additional Information

• Pala Dynasty:
  • The Pala Dynasty was a prominent ruling dynasty in the Indian subcontinent, primarily ruling the regions of Bengal and Bihar from the 8th to the 12th centuries.
  • They were known for their patronage of Buddhism and significant contributions to art, culture, and education. The famous universities of Nalanda and Vikramashila flourished during this period.
• Kalachuri Dynasty:
  • The Kalachuri Dynasty ruled parts of Central and Western India during the medieval period. They are known for their contributions to temple architecture and inscriptions that provide valuable historical records.

The correct answer is: 'Dharampal'.

Key Points

• Dharampal established Vikramshila University.
  • Vikramshila University was one of the major Buddhist learning centers in ancient India, established by King Dharampal of the Pala dynasty in the late 8th or early 9th century.
  • It was located in present-day Bihar, India, and aimed to complement the educational activities of Nalanda University.
  • The university was a center for Buddhist Tantric learning and attracted scholars from various parts of the world.

Additional Information

• Kumaragupta:
  • Kumaragupta I was a ruler of the Gupta Empire in India who reigned during the 5th century CE.
  • He is known for maintaining the empire's prosperity and stability, as well as for the construction of the Nalanda University, another prominent ancient center of learning.
• Rudradaman:
  • Rudradaman I was a Saka ruler of the Western Kshatrapas who reigned during the 2nd century CE.
  • He is known for his significant contributions to the development of Sanskrit literature and for the repair of the Sudarshana Lake.
• Gopal I:
  • Gopal I was the founder of the Pala dynasty in the 8th century CE.
  • He is notable for his role in establishing the Pala rule in Bengal and Bihar, laying the foundation for the later achievements of his dynasty, including the establishment of universities like Vikramshila by his descendants.

The correct answer is - A is true, but R is false.

Key Points

• Assertion (A): The Pala dynasty is regarded as the last major royal patron of Buddhism in India.
  • The Pala dynasty, which ruled large parts of Eastern India (Bengal and Bihar) from the 8th to the 12th centuries, is noted for its strong patronage of Buddhism.
  • The Pala kings, particularly Gopala, Dharmapala, and Devapala, were ardent supporters of Mahayana Buddhism.
  • They established and supported numerous monasteries and educational institutions, including the famed Vikramashila and Nalanda universities, which became prominent centers of Buddhist learning.
  • The Palas were instrumental in the spread of Buddhism to Tibet and Southeast Asia, thus playing a critical role in sustaining the religion during a period when it was declining in other parts of India due to the rise of Hinduism and later Islam.
• Reason (R): The Pala rulers sought to unify their region by promoting a distinct Pala script for Buddhist texts.
  • The Reason (R) is incorrect because the Pala dynasty did not specifically promote a distinct Pala script for Buddhist texts.
  • The prevalent scripts during the Pala period included Siddhamatrika and later, Proto-Bengali script, which evolved into the Bengali script.
  • While the Palas were patrons of Buddhist literature and texts, their unification efforts were not centered around the promotion of a distinctive script but rather through cultural, educational, and religious means.
  • The primary focus of their patronage was the construction of monasteries, temples, and universities, as well as the commissioning of Buddhist manuscripts and art.

Additional Information

• Pala Dynasty:
  • The Pala Empire, founded by Gopala in the mid-8th century, was known for its extensive territory and influence over the Indian subcontinent, especially in the regions of Bengal and Bihar.
  • The Palas maintained a strong Buddhist cultural tradition and built numerous monasteries and stupas, which significantly contributed to the spread of Buddhism in Asia.
  • The dynasty's period is marked by architectural advancements, particularly the construction of significant Buddhist monuments and educational institutions.
• Buddhism under the Palas:
  • The flourishing of universities like Vikramashila, Nalanda, Somapura, and Odantapuri under Pala support provided platforms for scholars from various regions to study and disseminate Buddhist teachings.
  • The Pala period saw the creation and distribution of Buddhist texts and manuscripts that became foundational for future generations of Buddhist practitioners.

The correct answer is Gopala.

• The Pala Empire was a majestic power during the post-classical period in the Indian subcontinent which emerged in the region of Bengal.

Important Points

• The Pala fortress was located in Bengal and Bihar, which comprises the major cities of Vikrampura, Pataliputra, Gauda, Monghyr, Somapura, Ramvati (Varendra), Tamralipta and Jaggadala.
• The empire reached its heights under the Emperors Dharmapala and Devapala.
• At its peak in the early 9th century, the Pala Empire was the supreme power in the northern Indian subcontinent.
• Emperor Ramapala was the last mighty Pala ruler, who achieve control of Kamarupa and Kalinga during his reign.
• The resurgent Hindu Sena dynasty uncrowns the Pala Empire in the 12th century, ending the rule of the last major Buddhist majestic power in the Indian subcontinent.

The correct answer is The Palas.

Key Points

• Nalanda and Vikramashila universities were founded during the reign of the Pala dynasty.
• Vikramashila was founded by the Pala emperor Dharmapala (783 to 820 AD) in response to a supposed decline in the quality of scholarship at Nalanda.
• Kumargupta founded Nalanda University in the 5th century A.D.
• Nalanda and Vikramshila were the two most important centres of learning in India during the Pala Empire.
• In 1193 army led by the Turkish leader Bakhtiyar Khilji who was the general of Qutubuddin Aibak destroyed them
• During the time of Palas, the Bengali language developed. The first Bengali literary work Charyapada is attributed to this period.

Additional Information

The correct answer is Bihar.

• Bihar was ruled by the 'Pal dynasty'.

Key Points

• Pal Dynasty:
  • Pala dynasty ruled in Bihar and Bengal from the 8th to the 12th century. 
  • Its founder was Gopala.
  • His successor was Dharmapala and he greatly expanded the Pala kingdom.
  • Pala dynasty was a staunch follower of Mahayana and Tantric schools of Buddhism and created the environment for Buddhist monasteries including the Somapura Mahavihara. 
  • Govindapala was the last ruler of the Pala dynasty.
  • During the time of Palas, classical Indian philosophy, literature, painting, and sculptures flourished
  • They also patronized the great universities of Nalanda and Vikramashila.

The correct answer is Dharmapala.

• Dharmapala founded the famous Vikramashila University in the ninth century.

Key Points

• Vikramashila was one of the three most important Buddhist monasteries in India during the Pala Empire, along with Nalanda and Odantapuri.
• It was established in response to a supposed decline in the quality of scholarship at Nalanda.
• Vikramashila University is located in Bihar.

Additional Information

• The Pala Dynasty originated in the region of Bengal as an imperial power during the Late Classical period on the Indian subcontinent.
• The dynasty was named after its ruling dynasty, whose rulers bore names ending with the suffix of Palau, which meant "protector".
• They were followers of the Mahayana and Tantric schools of Buddhism.
• They were insightful diplomats and military conquerors.
• Their army was equipped with war elephant cavalry.
• The Pala period is also known as a ‘Golden Era’ in Bengali history.

Important Points

• The Pala Dynasty was founded by Gopala I.
• Dharmapala was the son of Gopala I and the second ruler of the Pala Dynasty.
• Samanta Sena was the founder of the Sena dynasty.
• Ballala Sena was the second ruler of the Sena dynasty.

• Sandhyakara Nandi dealt with the early history of the Palas in only 10 verses, and then dwelt on his main theme in the rest of the text.
• He equates the story of Ramapala with the story of the epic figure Rama. The loss of Varendra to the Kaivarta chief Divya (Divyoka) was equated with the loss of Sita to Ravana and her retrieval by Rama has been equated with the reoccupation of Varendra by Ramapala.
• Then he continued the history of the Pala kings to the beginning of Madanapala's reign in the last two cantos of the text. An appendix has been added, Kaviprashasti, in which the poet calls himself Kalikala-valmiki (Valmiki of the Kali age) and gives his genealogy and explains the nature and style of his work.

The correct answer is the Palas.

Key Points

• The Pala Empire was an imperial power during the post-classical period in the Indian subcontinent, which originated in Bengal.
• The Palas were great patrons of Mahayana Buddhism.
• The Pala dynasty ruled from 8th century to 12th century CE in the regions comprising Bihar and Bengal.
• The empire was founded by Gopala in 750 CE.
• They had the longest rule i.e., for four years.

 Thus, we can say that the Palas had the longest rule.

Additional Information

• The Pratiharas was a dynasty in Northern India from mid-8th to 11th century.
• The Senas was a Hindu dynasty that ruled Bengal through 11th and 12th centuries.
• The Rashtrakutas was a royal Indian dynasty ruling large parts of India between 6th to 10 century.

The correct answer is option 4) Gahadavalas

• The evidence of water tax is provided by the inscriptions of Gahadavalas. 
• They ruled for over a century (1080-1097 AD), In North India, which extended from the western bank of Yamuna in the west to Patna Monnghyr and Bodhgaya in Bihar in the east.
• It extended from the foothills of the Himalayas in the north to Beghelkhanda in Madhya Pradesh in the south.

Additional Information

• According to the Gahadavala inscriptions, Govindachandra appreciated and patronised different branches of learning.
• The Gahadavala kings worshipped Vishnu.
• The Gahadvala inscriptions describe the kings as Parama-Maheshvara ("devotees of Shiva").

Assertion

• The Nalanda inscription is an ancient Buddhist inscription located in Nalanda, within the present-day Bihar state of Northeastern India. It has been dated to 860 CE.
• The inscription talks about king Devapaladeva of Bengala (Pala Empire) who had granted the request of Sri Maharaja of Suvarnadvipa, Balaputra, to build a Buddhist monastery at Nalanda. Balaputra was mentioned as the son of Samaragrawira, grandson of Śailendravamsatilaka (the jewel of the Śailendra family) with stylized name Śrīviravairimathana (the slayer of enemy hero), king of Java that married Tārā, daughter of Dharmasetu.

It says:

Having requested, King Devapaladeva who was the preceptor for initiating into widowhood the wives of all the enemies, through envoys, very respectfully and out of devotion and issuing a charter, (he) granted these five villages whose purpose had been motived above for the welfare of himself, his parents and the world. 

It was found by Hirananda Shastri in 1921 in the antechamber of Monastery 1 at Nalanda.

REASONING

• Copper Plate inscription of King Devapala deva of Bengal throws light on the grant of five villages given by the king Devapala in the district of Rajagriha (in Patna division) for the upkeep and maintenance of monks and copying of manuscripts in the monastery built by the Sumatran king on the 21st day of Kartika in the 39 regnal year.
• It also mentions that the grant was given by the king on the request of Maharaja Balaputra Deva of Suvarnadvipa i.e. Sumatra. It is a unique testimony to the long intercourse maintained by the Sailendras with their motherland.

The correct answer is - Vigrahpal (Shurpal)

Key Points

• Vigrahpal (Shurpal)
  • Vigrahpal, also known as Shurpal, succeeded Devpal as the ruler of the Pal dynasty in Bengal.
  • The Pal dynasty was a significant ruling dynasty in Bengal, known for their contributions to the region's culture and administration.
  • Vigrahpal continued the legacy of the Pal dynasty, maintaining stability and prosperity in the region.

Additional Information

• Narayanpal
  • Narayanpal was also a notable ruler of the Pal dynasty, but he did not directly succeed Devpal.
  • He is known for his contributions to the cultural and architectural developments in Bengal.
• Veerpal
  • Veerpal was another significant figure in the Pal dynasty, recognized for his valor and administrative skills.
  • Though important, he did not directly follow Devpal as the ruler.
• Nagpal
  • Nagpal was a member of the Pal dynasty, but historical records do not indicate him as the immediate successor of Devpal.
  • His contributions are more obscure compared to other rulers of the Pal dynasty.

The correct answer is Dharmapala.
Key Points

• Dharmapala was the founder of Vikramshila University.
• Vikramshila University was founded in the 8th century AD.
• Vikramshila University is located in Bhagalpur, Bihar.
• Vikramshila University was the most important learning center of Buddhism in India during the Pala empire.
• In 1193, Vikramshila was destroyed by Bakhtiar Khilji.
• Nalanda University is also located in Bihar.

Additional Information

• Devapala:
  • His period was from 810 to 850 AD.
  • Father: Dharmapala
  • Mother: Rannadevi
  • He extended the kingdom to Assam, Orissa, and Kamarupa.
  • He was a follower of Buddhism.
  • He built many monasteries and temples in Magadha.
  • He defeated the Rashtrakutas.
• Dharmapala:
  • His period was from 770 to 810 AD.
  • Father: Gopala
  • He was a follower of Buddhism.
  • Palas became the most powerful Kingdom in India during his rule.
  • He founded Vikramshila University of Bhagalpur, Bihar.
• Gopala:
  • His period was from 750 to 770 AD.
  • He was the first king of the Pala dynasty.
  • He was the founder of the Pala dynasty.
  • Father: Vapyata.
  • He built the monastery at Odantpuri, Bihar.
• Mahipala I:
  • He was the 10th ruler of the Pala dynasty.
  • He was one of the most powerful rulers of the Pala dynasty.
  • He expanded his boundaries as far as Varanasi.