WBCS.LIVE practice question

Pulakeshin II assumed the title of ‘Dakshinapatheshvara’ (lord of the south) after defeating which of the following rulers of North India?

Solve this multiple-choice question and check the correct answer with its explanation below.

Answer options

  1. Rudrasena II
  2. Harshavardhana
  3. Prabhakarvardhana
  4. Dhruvasena II

Correct answer and explanation

Correct answer: Harshavardhana

Explanation: The correct answer is B. Harshavardhana. Pulakeshin II, the greatest ruler of the Chalukya dynasty of Badami (around 610–642 CE), successfully resisted the expansionist campaign of Harshavardhana, the powerful ruler of Thanesar and later Kanauj, who sought to bring the Deccan under his control. This famous battle took place near the Narmada River, which was considered the boundary between North and South India at the time. After defeating Harshavardhana, Pulakeshin II assumed the grand imperial title ‘Dakshinapatheshvara’, meaning ‘Lord of the South,’ asserting his sovereignty over the entire Deccan region. This event is mentioned in the Ai-hole Inscription (634 CE), composed by Pulakeshin’s court poet Ravikirti.