Territorial Region      River flowing in the region 

 I. Asmaka                 :    Godavari 

II. Kamboja               :   Vipas 

III. Avanti                  :    Mahanadi 

IV. Kosala                  :    Sarayu 

How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched? 

(a) Only one 

(b) Only two 

(c) Only three 

(d) All the four 

Ans-b

Explanation

Buddhist and Jaina texts list 16 powerful states (solasa-mahajanapada) that flourished in the early 6th century BCE. The Anguttara Nikaya’s list of the mahajanapadas is as follows: Kasi (Kashi), Kosala (Koshala), Anga, Magadha, Vajji (Vrijji), Malla, Chetiya (Chedi), Vamsa (Vatsa), Kuru, Panchala, Machchha (Matsya), Shurasena, Assaka (Ashmaka), Avanti, Gandhara, and Kamboja.

Asmaka : Assaka (Ashmaka) is located on the Godavari river. Its capital was Potana/Podana or Potali, identified with modern Bodhan.  

Hence 1st  pair is correctly matched

Kamboja: Kamboja included the area around Rajaori, including the Hazara district of the North-West Frontier Province of Pakistan, and probably extended up to Kafiristan 

Vipas is a Rigvedic name of the Beas river, which flows through the states of Himachal Pradesh and Punjab. 

Hence  2nd  pair is incorrectly matched 

Avanti: Avanti, in the Malwa region of central India, was divided into a northern and a southern part by the Vindhyas. The two important towns of this kingdom were Mahishmati (identified with modern

Maheshwar) and Ujjayini (near modern Ujjain), both of which are mentioned in ancient texts as its capital.  The Narmada River flows through Avanti. 

Hence  3rd pair is incorrectly matched 

Kosala : The powerful kingdom of Kosala was bounded by the Sadanira (Gandak) on the east, the Gomati on the west, the Sarpika or Syandika (Sai) on the south, and the Nepal hills to the north. The Sarayu River divided it into a northern and a southern part. 

Hence 4th pair is correctly matched

Read: Previous Year UPSC History Questions (PYQs) With Explanation 2025