Which of the following sources indicate that the last Mauryan ruler Brihadrath was assassinated by Pushyamitra?

Answer & Explanation

Correct answer: (C) Puranas or (D) Harshacharita (OPSC accepted more than one option)

Both the Puranas and the Harshacharita contain references to the assassination of the last Mauryan ruler Brihadratha by Pushyamitra Shunga, though they describe the event from different perspectives:

Puranas

• The Puranas, particularly the Vishnu Purana and Matsya Purana, provide information about the end of the Mauryan dynasty and the rise of the Shunga dynasty.
• They record that Pushyamitra Shunga, the Senapati (commander-in-chief) of Brihadratha, killed his master and established the Shunga dynasty.
• The Puranas provide the genealogical succession of Mauryan kings leading up to Brihadratha and then list the Shunga rulers beginning with Pushyamitra. The Puranic accounts are more matter-of-fact and genealogical in nature, recording the transition of power without elaborate dramatic detail.

Harshacharita

• The Harshacharita, written by Banabhatta in the 7th century CE, provides a more vivid and dramatic account of the assassination.
• Banabhatta describes how Pushyamitra treacherously murdered his master Brihadratha during a military parade or army review, seizing power in front of the assembled troops. This is the more detailed and frequently cited narrative of the event.