In which dynasty did Chandragupta II marry his daughter Prabhavati and strengthened his position ?
- (1)Lichchhvi Dynasty
- (2)Kadamb Dynasty
- (3)Vakataka Dynasty
- (4)Naga Dynasty
Answer
Why
Correct — option (3), Vakataka Dynasty.
H. C. Raychaudhuri's Political History of Ancient India (5th edition, 1950) lists among the chief external events of Chandragupta II's reign his matrimonial alliance with the Vakataka king Rudrasena II, son of Prithivishena I.
Raychaudhuri writes that Chandragupta II had a daughter named Prabhavati, 'whom he gave in marriage to Rudrasena II, the Vakataka king of Berar and the adjoining provinces.'
He then quotes V. A. Smith on the purpose: the Vakataka ruler's position could be of much service or disservice to a northern invader of the Saka satraps' lands in Gujarat and Surashtra, so the marriage secured his alliance.
The dynasty Prabhavati married into is option (3), Vakataka Dynasty.
The idea to remember: Prabhavati Gupta, daughter of Chandragupta II and the Naga princess Kuberanaga, married the Vakataka king Rudrasena II.
Why the others are wrong
- (1)Lichchhvi Dynasty — The Lichchhavi marriage belongs to an earlier Gupta. Raychaudhuri says Chandragupta I strengthened his position through a matrimonial alliance with the Lichchhavis, marrying the Lichchhavi princess Kumaradevi.
Coins show the king and queen on the obverse, with the legend 'Lichchhavayah' on the reverse. Lichchhvi Dynasty answers a question on Chandragupta I's marriage.
- (2)Kadamb Dynasty — The Kadamba link ran the other way. Raychaudhuri cites the Talagunda inscription, which says the Kadamba king Kakusthavarman gave his daughters in marriage to the Gupta and other kings.
So Guptas took Kadamba brides; Prabhavati was given to the Vakatakas. Kadamb Dynasty answers a question on the Talagunda inscription's marriage alliances.
- (4)Naga Dynasty — The Nagas enter Prabhavati's story through her mother, not her husband. Raychaudhuri says Chandragupta II married Kuberanaga, a princess of Naga lineage, and had by her the daughter Prabhavati.
Naga Dynasty answers a question on the family of Chandragupta II's queen Kuberanaga.
Concept
Raychaudhuri treats marriage as a tool of Gupta foreign policy. The Lichchhavi connection had strengthened the Guptas in Bihar; after conquering the upper provinces they sought alliances with other ruling families whose help they needed.
He notes that Samudragupta received presents of girls (kanyopayana) from Saka-Kushan chiefs and other foreign rulers, and that Chandragupta II himself married Kuberanaga of Naga lineage.
Prabhavati's marriage tied the Vakatakas of Berar to the Gupta house. Raychaudhuri names her sons as Divakarasena, Damodarasena and Pravarasena II.
RPSC's 2023 syllabus lists "Achievements of prominent rulers of major dynasties: Maurya, Kushan, Satavahan, Gupta, Chalukya, Pallava and Chola." under Indian History.
The alliance mattered for Chandragupta II's western war. Raychaudhuri pairs it with the war against the Saka satraps, which added Western Malwa and Surashtra (Kathiawar) to the Gupta dominions.
The tie lasted beyond one generation: Raychaudhuri calls the Vakataka king Narendrasena a great-grandson of Chandragupta II through Prabhavati.
Key facts
- Raychaudhuri: Chandragupta II gave his daughter Prabhavati in marriage to Rudrasena II, the Vakataka king of Berar and adjoining provinces.
- Prabhavati's mother was Kuberanaga, a princess of Naga lineage, according to Raychaudhuri.
- Raychaudhuri places Chandragupta II's accession before AD 381 and his death in or about AD 413–14.
- Raychaudhuri names Prabhavati as the mother of Divakarasena, Damodarasena and Pravarasena II.
- Chandragupta I's union with the Lichchhavi princess Kumaradevi is commemorated on coins bearing the legend 'Lichchhavayah'.
Prabhavati married into the Vakataka dynasty, option (3). Source: H. C. Raychaudhuri, Political History of Ancient India (1950).
Study next
Common traps
- Confusing Prabhavati's mother's family with her husband's: Kuberanaga was of Naga lineage, while Rudrasena II was a Vakataka.
- Mixing the two Chandraguptas: the Lichchhavi marriage, to Kumaradevi, was Chandragupta I's.
- Reversing the Kadamba link: the Talagunda inscription says the Kadamba Kakusthavarman gave daughters to the Guptas.
A question can name a royal marriage and ask which dynasty it joined, or name a queen and ask her father or husband.
A question can also ask which Gupta ruler married a Lichchhavi princess.
Related PYQs
Which of the following titles was adopted by the Kadphises Second of Kushan dynasty ?
- (1) Sakari
- (2) Sarvalokeshwar
- (3) Mahakshatrap
- (4) Singh Chandra
Answer(2)
Same syllabus head, rulers of major ancient dynasties: that question asks which title the Kushan king Kadphises II adopted (RPSC's key: Sarvalokeshwar). This one asks into which dynasty Chandragupta II married his daughter Prabhavati.
Practice
- practice — not a real PYQ
The union of which Gupta ruler with the Lichchhavi princess Kumaradevi is commemorated on coins?
- (a)Chandragupta I
- (b)Samudragupta
- (c)Chandragupta II
- (d)Kumaragupta I
Answer(1) — Raychaudhuri says Chandragupta I's union with the Lichchhavi family is commemorated by coins showing him and Kumaradevi. Option (2) received presents of girls from Saka-Kushan chiefs; option (3) married the Naga princess Kuberanaga; option (4) was Chandragupta II's son by Dhruvadevi. - practice — not a real PYQ
Prabhavati Gupta was the mother of which Vakataka ruler?
- (a)Pravarasena II
- (b)Prithivishena I
- (c)Narendrasena
- (d)Harishena
Answer(1) — Raychaudhuri names Prabhavati as the mother of Divakarasena, Damodarasena and Pravarasena II. Option (2) was the father of her husband Rudrasena II; option (3) was Chandragupta II's great-grandson through her; option (4) appears in Raychaudhuri's genealogy in the Vatsagulma branch of the Vakatakas, not among Prabhavati's sons.