UPSC Prelims 2005 Q22: Ancient History – Mahajanapadas & Early Kingdoms
Who among the following was not a contemporary of the other three?
- (a) Bimbisara
- (b) Gautama Buddha
- (c) Milinda
- (d) Prasenjit
Answer: (c) Milinda
Explanation
Contemporaries in ancient India
| Person | Period |
|---|---|
| Bimbisara | Magadha king, 6th century BC |
| Gautama Buddha | 6th-5th century BC |
| Prasenjit | Kosala king, 6th century BC |
| Milinda (Menander) | Indo-Greek king, 2nd century BC |
Milinda (Menander) ruled about four centuries after the others, so he was not their contemporary.
Answer: (c) Milinda.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Bimbisara was a contemporary of the Buddha.
- (b) Incorrect. Buddha lived in the 6th-5th century BC.
- (c) CORRECT. Milinda was an Indo-Greek king of the 2nd century BC.
- (d) Incorrect. Prasenjit of Kosala was a contemporary of the Buddha.
Key point
Buddha's contemporaries: Bimbisara, Ajatashatru, Prasenjit, Udayana.
Remember
Milinda was not a contemporary of the Buddha.
Common mistakes
- Assuming all kings in the options belong to the same era.
- Forgetting that Milinda's questions are in the Milindapanha, a later text.
- Mixing Milinda with Prasenjit as both Buddhist patrons.
Exam tip
Milinda = Menander, Indo-Greek, with Nagasena.
Sources
- R. S. Sharma — Ancient India (NCERT textbook for Class XI)
- Romila Thapar — A History of India, Volume 1 (Penguin)