What was the political significance of Bimbisara’s marriage to a Kosalan princess?

Correct — B. Bimbisara of Magadha married Kosala Devi, sister of Prasenajit (Pasenadi) of Kosala, and she brought him Kashi as dowry.

The marriage ended the hostility between Magadha and Kosala and gave Bimbisara a free hand with other states. Its political significance was peace with Kosala: option (b).

Why the others are wrong

• (a)
  Spread of Buddhism — Bimbisara was a patron of the Buddha, but that is his religious record. A marriage into Kosala's royal house bought a political result, not the spread of a faith.
• (c)
  Trade with South India — Kosala was a north Indian kingdom with its capital at Shravasti, so a Kosalan marriage had nothing to do with trade with the south.
• (d)
  Fall of Pasenadi — Pasenadi was the bride's brother. The marriage made him Bimbisara's brother-in-law, an ally rather than a target.

Bimbisara of the Haryanka dynasty built Magadha's power partly through marriage alliances.

He married Kosala Devi of Kosala, Chellana, a Licchavi princess of Vaishali, and Kshema, daughter of the chief of the Madra clan of Punjab.

The Kosalan marriage brought Kashi as dowry and made peace with a powerful neighbour, leaving Bimbisara free to expand elsewhere. He annexed Anga.

Key facts

• Kosala Devi, Bimbisara's first wife, was a sister of Prasenajit (Pasenadi) of Kosala.
• Kosala Devi's dowry was Kashi.
• Chellana, a Licchavi princess of Vaishali, was another of Bimbisara's queens.
• Kshema, of the Madra clan of Punjab, was a third queen.

Common traps

• Choosing Spread of Buddhism because Bimbisara is remembered as the Buddha's patron.
• Reading Pasenadi's name as the marriage's target, when he was the bride's brother.

No directly related past PYQ was found.