Question 42 of 55 · Post-Mauryan & Gupta Age
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The last king of the Shunga dynasty, who was killed by his own minister, was:

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Answer: Option D — Devabhuti

Detailed Solution

Devabhuti was the last ruler of the Shunga dynasty; according to the Puranas and Banabhatta's "Harshacharita", he was killed by his own minister, who then founded a new dynasty, around 73 BCE.

About Devabhuti:

  • He ruled for about ten years.
  • According to the "Harshacharita", he was a pleasure-loving king, who was killed by a slave girl disguised as a queen, at the instigation of his minister.
  • His minister then established the Kanva dynasty, which ruled Magadha for about 45 years.

About the Shunga dynasty:

  • It was founded by Pushyamitra Shunga around 185 BCE, after he assassinated the last Mauryan king, Brihadratha.
  • It ruled from about 185 BCE to 73 BCE, from Pataliputra and later from Vidisha.

Important rulers:

  • Pushyamitra Shunga: the founder; he performed two Ashvamedha sacrifices; he fought the Indo-Greeks and the Kalinga king.
  • Agnimitra: the son of Pushyamitra; he was the governor of Vidisha, and is the hero of Kalidasa's play "Malavikagnimitra".
  • Vasumitra: the grandson of Pushyamitra, who defeated the Greeks on the banks of the Sindhu river, according to Kalidasa.
  • Devabhuti: the last ruler.

Shunga art:

  • The Shunga period saw important developments in art, such as the expansion of the Sanchi stupa, and Buddhist railings and gateways at other sites.
  • Terracotta figurines of the Shunga period are well known.

The Kanva dynasty:

  • It ruled Magadha from about 73 BCE to 28 BCE.
  • It was overthrown by the Satavahanas (according to the Puranas).

Why not the other options?

  • ✗Agnimitra was the son of Pushyamitra.
  • ✗Vasumitra was the grandson of Pushyamitra.
  • ✗Pushyamitra was the founder of the dynasty.

Quick tip

Remember: last Shunga = Devabhuti (killed at his minister's instigation, about 73 BCE); Shunga founder = Pushyamitra (about 185 BCE); Agnimitra = Malavikagnimitra; Kanvas followed.

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Post-Mauryan & Gupta Age — Preparation

This question tests your understanding of Post-Mauryan & Gupta Age, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.

This topic covers the period after the Mauryas: the Shungas, Satavahanas, Indo-Greeks, Shakas and Kushanas, followed by the Gupta Empire, often called the classical age of India, and the reign of Harshavardhana. It includes art, literature, science and administration in these periods. Exams test the rulers and their achievements (Kanishka and the fourth Buddhist council, Samudragupta's Allahabad Pillar inscription, Chandragupta II and Fa-Hien), the Gandhara and Mathura schools of art, and Gupta scholars such as Kalidasa, Aryabhata and Varahamihira. Harsha's reign is usually tested with Hiuen Tsang and Nalanda University. Practise the post-Mauryan and Gupta age questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.