Q30 · UPSC Prelims 2020 · Set A · History (Ancient, Medieval, Modern)

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Who among the following rulers advised his subjects through this inscription? "Whosoever praises his religious sect or blames other sects out of excessive devotion to his own sect, with the view of glorifying his own sect, he rather injures his own sect very severely."

Attempt Solution

A Ashoka

B Samudragupta

C Harshavardhana

D Krishnadeva Raya

Correct answer: (a) Ashoka

Explanation

A
Ashoka
Ashoka. Rock Edict XII: do not praise one’s sect by blaming others; that injures one’s own.
B
Samudragupta
Samudragupta. Prayaga prasasti is conquest, not this tolerance line.
C
Harshavardhana
Harsha. Different corpus.
D
Krishnadeva Raya
Krishnadeva Raya. Amuktamalyada, not this edict.

Summary. Official key is (a) Ashoka. The quoted warning against sectarian self-praise is Major Rock Edict XII — dhamma as restraint in speech about other sects.

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2026 · Q53 · General Studies · 2 marks
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