Which of the following statements about King Harshavardhana are correct? A. He belonged to the Maukhari dynasty B. He was defeated by Pulakesin II C. Ban, Mayura and Matanga Divakara were the famous writers at his court D. Harsha himself wrote three plays - Ratnavali, Priyadarshika and Nagamanjari

Harshavardhana

• Harshavardhana, popularly known as Harsha, was an Indian emperor who ruled North India from 606 to 647 CE.
• His father was the founder of Pushyabhuti or Vardhana Dynasty, Prabhakar Vardhana. Hence, statement 1 is incorrect.
• Territory- While Harsha was at his most powerful, the Narmada River served as the southern border of his domain, which at the time included much of north and northwest India.
• Capital- Afterwards, he chose Kannauj (in the present-day state of Uttar Pradesh) as his capital, and he ruled there until 647 CE.
• Defeated by- As Harsha attempted to extend his kingdom towards the southern peninsula of India, Pulakeshin II of the Chalukya dynasty destroyed him in the Battle of Narmada. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
• Family - He has a daughter in addition to two boys. His sons were murdered by his administration, but his daughter married the Vallabhi king.
• Wife - Durgavati
• The Chinese traveler Hiuen-Tsang visited the court of Harsha and wrote a very pleasing account of Harsha’s justice and humanity.
• Sanskrit poet Banabhatta written Harshacharita (“Deeds of Harsha”). It is a biography of Harshavardhana.
• Others writers at his court included Mayura and Matanga Divakara. The famous work of Mayurbhatta was Suryasataka and Matanga Divakara's treatise, Brihaddesi, is considered one of the earliest authoritative texts on Indian music.Hence, statement 3 is correct.
• Plays written by Harshavardhana- Nagananda, Priyadarsika, Ratnavali. Hence, statement 4 is correct.
• He was in fact a Hindu who later became a Mahayana Buddhist.

Additional Information

• The Maukhari Dynasty was a significant ruling dynasty in northern India during the early medieval period, particularly between the 6th and 7th centuries CE.
• The Maukhari rulers initially served as feudatories of the Gupta Empire but later established their independent kingdom centered in the region of modern-day Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.