Shunga Dynasty Top 100 MCQs With Answer and Explanation

1. The Shunga dynasty was founded in ___________.
A) 321 BCE
B) 185 BCE
C) 120 BCE
D) 73 CE

2. The founder of the Shunga dynasty was___________.
A) Brihadratha
B) Pushyamitra Shunga
C) Agnimitra
D) Vasumitra

3. Pushyamitra Shunga was originally___________.
A) A Buddhist monk
B) The commander-in-chief of Mauryan army
C) A provincial governor under Mauryas
D) A Brahmana priest

4. The last Mauryan emperor killed by Pushyamitra Shunga was___________.
A) Ashoka
B) Bindusara
C) Brihadratha
D) Dasharatha

5. The Shunga capital was at___________.
A) Ujjain
B) Pataliputra
C) Vidisha
D) Ayodhya

6. Pushyamitra Shunga ruled for about___________.
A) 10 years
B) 36 years
C) 50 years
D) 60 years

7. The successor of Pushyamitra Shunga was___________.
A) Agnimitra
B) Vasumitra
C) Brihadratha II
D) Bhagabhadra

8. The famous Sanskrit play Malavikagnimitram was written by___________.
A) Kalidasa
B) Banabhatta
C) Bharavi
D) Sudraka

9. The Indo-Greek ruler who is said to have invaded during Pushyamitra’s reign was___________.
A) Demetrius
B) Menander
C) Antiochus
D) Diodotus

10. Pushyamitra performed the___________.
A) Vajapeya sacrifice
B) Rajasuya sacrifice
C) Ashvamedha sacrifice
D) Agnihotra sacrifice

11. The revival of the Ashvamedha sacrifice under Pushyamitra indicated___________.
A) Military expansion
B) Revival of Brahmanism
C) Assertion of political supremacy
D) All of the above

12. Which Buddhist text accuses Pushyamitra Shunga of persecuting Buddhists?
A) Divyavadana
B) Mahavamsa
C) Dipavamsa
D) Lalitavistara

13. The Shunga rulers are known for promoting___________.
A) Buddhism
B) Jainism
C) Brahmanism (Hinduism)
D) Christianity

14. The Shunga period saw the decline of___________.
A) Hellenistic influence
B) Buddhism in Gangetic plains
C) Mauryan centralized power
D) All of the above

15. Agnimitra ruled from___________.
A) 149 BCE – 141 BCE
B) 185 BCE – 149 BCE
C) 73 BCE – 50 BCE
D) 200 BCE – 185 BCE

16. The Shungas ruled mainly over___________.
A) Eastern India
B) Northern and Central India
C) Southern India
D) Western India

17. Pushyamitra Shunga is said to have defeated___________.
A) Kalinga kings
B) Indo-Greeks
C) Satavahanas
D) Kushanas

18. The dynasty founded by Pushyamitra Shunga lasted for about___________.
A) 112 years
B) 72 years
C) 200 years
D) 50 years

19. Which river formed the core region of Shunga power?
A) Ganga
B) Narmada
C) Yamuna
D) Godavari

20. The Shunga dynasty was succeeded by___________.
A) Satavahanas
B) Kanvas
C) Kushanas
D) Guptas

21. Pushyamitra’s reign is important because ___________.
A) He defended India from Indo-Greeks
B) He revived Brahmanical Hinduism
C) He marked the end of Mauryan centralized rule
D) All of the above

22. The Shungas continued trade contacts with___________.
A) Romans
B) Indo-Greeks
C) Central Asia
D) All of the above

23. Evidence of Shunga art is found at___________.
A) Sanchi Stupa
B) Bharhut Stupa
C) Mathura sculptures
D) All of the above

24. The Bharhut stupa sculptures belong to___________.
A) Maurya period
B) Shunga period
C) Gupta period
D) Kushana period

25. The Shunga period is significant in Indian history as___________.
A) It bridged Mauryan and Gupta periods
B) It revived Brahmanism
C) It saw Indo-Greek interactions
D) All of the above

26. The immediate successor of Pushyamitra Shunga was___________.
A) Vasumitra
B) Agnimitra
C) Bhagabhadra
D) Devabhuti

27. The reign of Agnimitra Shunga is described in Kalidasa’s play___________.
A) Raghuvamsha
B) Malavikagnimitram
C) Meghaduta
D) Abhijnanashakuntalam

28. Agnimitra’s capital was at___________.
A) Pataliputra
B) Vidisha
C) Ayodhya
D) Taxila

29. The Indo-Greek ruler who invaded India during later Shunga times was___________.
A) Demetrius
B) Menander (Milinda)
C) Apollodotus
D) Antialcidas

30. The Indo-Greek ruler Menander is known in Buddhist texts as___________.
A) Nagarjuna
B) Milinda
C) Ashvaghosha
D) Vasumitra

31. The Shunga king who fought successfully against Indo-Greek invasions was___________.
A) Pushyamitra
B) Agnimitra
C) Vasumitra
D) Devabhuti

32. Vasumitra, grandson of Pushyamitra, is credited with___________.
A) Protecting an Ashvamedha horse from Yavanas
B) Building Bharhut stupa
C) Writing grammar
D) Establishing Kanva dynasty

33. The famous grammarian Patanjali lived during___________.
A) Maurya period
B) Shunga period
C) Gupta period
D) Kushana period

34. Patanjali’s Mahabhashya is a commentary on___________.
A) Arthashastra
B) Panini’s Ashtadhyayi
C) Rigveda
D) Yajnavalkya Smriti

35. Patanjali also made contributions in___________.
A) Yoga Sutras
B) Ayurveda
C) Both A and B
D) Astronomy

36. The Indo-Greek king Antialcidas sent his envoy Heliodorus to the Shunga court of___________.
A) Pushyamitra
B) Agnimitra
C) Bhagabhadra
D) Vasumitra

37. The Heliodorus pillar inscription records___________.
A) Worship of Vishnu by Greek ambassador
B) Conquest of Yavanas by Shungas
C) Ashvamedha sacrifice
D) Foundation of Nalanda

38. The Heliodorus pillar inscription is significant because___________.
A) It shows Greek influence in India
B) It shows spread of Bhagavatism (Vaishnavism)
C) It is one of the earliest inscriptions mentioning Vasudeva
D) All of the above

39. The later Shunga ruler who issued coins with Hindu deities was___________.
A) Vasumitra
B) Agnimitra
C) Bhagabhadra
D) Devabhuti

40. The Shungas faced constant pressure from___________.
A) Indo-Greeks in the northwest
B) Satavahanas in the Deccan
C) Kalinga rulers in the east
D) All of the above

41. The last Shunga ruler was___________.
A) Bhagabhadra
B) Vasumitra
C) Devabhuti
D) Agnimitra

42. The Kanva dynasty was founded in___________.
A) 73 BCE
B) 185 BCE
C) 120 CE
D) 550 CE

43. The Shungas ruled for about___________.
A) 112 years
B) 200 years
C) 50 years
D) 73 years

44. The Indo-Greek interactions with Shungas show___________.
A) Cultural exchanges (Heliodorus pillar)
B) Wars and resistance (Menander)
C) Spread of Bhagavatism
D) All of the above

45. The Indo-Greek influence is especially visible in___________.
A) Coinage
B) Sculpture
C) Gandhara art
D) All of the above

46. The Shunga dynasty was primarily patrons of___________.
A) Buddhism
B) Jainism
C) Brahmanism and Vaishnavism
D) Ajivika sect

47. The Indo-Greek king Menander is remembered in Buddhist tradition because___________.
A) He embraced Buddhism
B) He built monasteries
C) He debated Nagasena
D) All of the above

48. Which Shunga ruler resisted Menander’s invasion?
A) Pushyamitra
B) Agnimitra
C) Vasumitra
D) Devabhuti

49. Which ancient Sanskrit grammarian lived during Shunga times?
A) Panini
B) Patanjali
C) Katyayana
D) Bhartrihari

50. The significance of Shunga period lies in___________.
A) Revival of Hinduism
B) Resistance to foreign invasions
C) Development of art (Bharhut, Sanchi, Heliodorus pillar)
D) All of the above

51. The Shunga administration was___________.
A) Highly centralized like Mauryas
B) More feudal and decentralized
C) Based on democratic assemblies
D) Controlled by Greek governors

52. Pushyamitra Shunga was a___________.
A) Kshatriya ruler
B) Brahmana ruler
C) Buddhist ruler
D) Jain ruler

53. Land grants under the Shungas were given mainly to___________.
A) Buddhists
B) Jainas
C) Brahmanas
D) Traders

54. The Shunga kings revived which Vedic rituals?
A) Rajasuya and Vajapeya
B) Ashvamedha
C) Agnihotra
D) All of the above

55. The economy of Shunga period was based on___________.
A) Agriculture
B) Internal and external trade
C) Crafts and artisanship
D) All of the above

56. The Shunga rulers issued coins mainly in___________.
A) Silver
B) Gold
C) Copper and lead
D) Iron

57. Foreign trade under the Shungas was maintained with___________.
A) Greeks and Romans
B) Central Asia
C) Sri Lanka
D) All of the above

58. The Shunga rulers are often accused of___________.
A) Persecuting Buddhists
B) Destroying monasteries
C) Supporting only Brahmanism
D) All of the above

59. Despite Brahmanical patronage, which religion’s art flourished under the Shungas?
A) Jainism
B) Buddhism
C) Ajivikas
D) Shaivism only

60. The Bharhut Stupa railings and gateways were built during___________.
A) Maurya period
B) Shunga period
C) Gupta period
D) Kushana period

61. The Sanchi Stupa decoration was carried forward by___________.
A) Ashoka
B) Pushyamitra Shunga
C) Satavahanas
D) Guptas

62. Shunga art is considered___________.
A) Mauryan polish style
B) Beginning of narrative relief sculpture
C) Purely Greek in nature
D) Mughal miniature style

63. The Heliodorus pillar inscription shows the spread of___________.
A) Jainism
B) Bhagavatism (early Vaishnavism)
C) Buddhism
D) Shaivism

64. The literary work Mahabhashya of Patanjali belongs to which field?
A) Medicine
B) Grammar
C) Astrology
D) Poetry

65. The importance of Mahabhashya is that it___________.
A) Provides historical references to Indo-Greek wars
B) Mentions Yavana invasions
C) Explains Sanskrit grammar in detail
D) All of the above

66. Pushyamitra Shunga is sometimes portrayed in Buddhist sources as___________.
A) Great patron of Buddhism
B) Destroyer of monasteries
C) Jain ruler
D) Satavahana ally

67. The Shunga dynasty’s role in literature was___________.
A) Revival of Sanskrit grammar
B) Patronage of plays and dramas
C) Expansion of Buddhist texts
D) All of the above

68. The Shunga art at Bharhut is characterized by___________.
A) Polished Mauryan pillars
B) Flat, linear narrative reliefs
C) Gandhara-style Greco-Buddhist figures
D) Use of bronze images

69. The Sanchi Stupa gateways built in Shunga times depict___________.
A) Life of Krishna
B) Life of Buddha and Jataka tales
C) Maurya conquest of Kalinga
D) Hindu sacrifices

70. Which ruler renovated the Sanchi Stupa after Ashoka?
A) Pushyamitra Shunga
B) Vasumitra
C) Agnimitra
D) Satavahana rulers

71. Which of the following is true of Shunga society?
A) Revival of caste system
B) Importance of Brahmanas
C) Religious tensions with Buddhists
D) All of the above

72. The Shunga rulers are remembered in cultural history for___________.
A) Buddhist stupas at Bharhut and Sanchi
B) Revival of Sanskrit grammar (Patanjali)
C) Bhagavatism spread (Heliodorus pillar)
D) All of the above

73. The Shunga period marked transition in art from___________.
A) Mauryan polish to narrative sculpture
B) Rock-cut caves to stone temples
C) Wooden architecture to stone
D) Mughal miniature to Rajput painting

74. Shunga rulers mainly promoted___________.
A) Brahmanism and Vaishnavism
B) Purely Buddhism
C) Jainism
D) Christianity

75. The Shunga period in literature and culture can be described as___________.
A) Dark Age of Indian history
B) Period of synthesis of Brahmanism and Buddhism
C) Era of purely Buddhist dominance
D) Period of Greek cultural rule

76. The last Shunga ruler was___________.
A) Agnimitra
B) Vasumitra
C) Bhagabhadra
D) Devabhuti

77. The Shunga dynasty ended in __________.
A) 185 BCE
B) 73 BCE
C) 50 CE
D) 320 CE

78. The Kanva dynasty was founded by ___________.
A) Vasudeva Kanva
B) Narayana Kanva
C) Vasumitra
D) Pushyamitra

79. The Kanva dynasty ruled for about ___________.
A) 20 years
B) 45 years
C) 112 years
D) 100 years

80. The Kanva dynasty was overthrown by ___________.
A) Satavahanas
B) Indo-Greeks
C) Kushanas
D) Mauryas

81. The decline of the Shungas was due to ___________.
A) Weak successors after Pushyamitra
B) Constant foreign invasions
C) Rise of local powers like Satavahanas
D) All of the above

82. The Shunga empire was largely confined to ___________.
A) Punjab and Rajasthan
B) Magadha and Central India
C) Tamil Nadu
D) Kashmir

83. The Shunga-Kanva period represents ___________.
A) The beginning of medieval India
B) A transitional phase between Mauryas and Satavahanas
C) A dark age without culture
D) Full control by Greeks

84. The Shungas are significant in cultural history because ___________.
A) They supported Sanskrit grammar (Patanjali)
B) They built Bharhut and renovated Sanchi stupas
C) They witnessed Indo-Greek cultural contact (Heliodorus pillar)
D) All of the above

85. The Heliodorus pillar at Vidisha belongs to which dynasty?
A) Maurya
B) Shunga
C) Gupta
D) Satavahana

86. The Milindapanho, recording the dialogue between Nagasena and Menander, is connected to which dynasty’s time?
A) Maurya
B) Shunga
C) Gupta
D) Satavahana

87. The last Kanva ruler was ___________.
A) Vasudeva Kanva
B) Susarman
C) Bhumimitra
D) Narayana

88. The Shungas and Kanvas together ruled for about ___________.
A) 50 years
B) 157 years
C) 200 years
D) 90 years

89. Which inscription provides evidence of Indo-Greek and Shunga interaction?
A) Allahabad pillar inscription
B) Besnagar (Heliodorus) pillar inscription
C) Mehrauli iron pillar
D) Girnar inscription

90. The Shunga period saw the flourishing of which type of art?
A) Gandhara art
B) Stupa railings and narrative reliefs
C) Rock-cut Ajanta paintings
D) Chola bronze images

91. The fall of the Shungas marked ___________.
A) The return of Mauryas
B) The rise of Kanvas, then Satavahanas
C) Direct foreign rule
D) The rise of Guptas

92. The Shunga period was important for Hinduism because ___________.
A) Vedic sacrifices were revived
B) Vaishnavism spread widely
C) Bhagavatism received foreign followers
D) All of the above

93. The Shunga decline illustrates which recurring pattern in Indian history?
A) Strong center → weak successors → decentralization
B) Foreign invasions followed by synthesis
C) Rise of regional powers after big empires
D) All of the above

94. The Shunga dynasty was contemporary with ___________.
A) Satavahanas in Deccan
B) Indo-Greeks in north-west
C) Ceylonese monarchs (Sri Lanka)
D) All of the above

95. Which dynasty came after the Kanvas in Magadha?
A) Satavahanas
B) Guptas
C) Kushanas
D) Vakatakas

96. A major limitation of the Shunga rulers was ___________.
A) Lack of strong navy
B) Failure to control entire subcontinent like Mauryas
C) Absence of literature
D) Dependence on Greeks

97. In art history, the Shunga period is remembered for ___________.
A) Refinement of Buddhist stupa architecture
B) Gandhara Buddha statues
C) Ajanta murals
D) Temple architecture

98. Which is a correct pair?
A) Pushyamitra – Ashvamedha
B) Agnimitra – Malavikagnimitram
C) Bhagabhadra – Heliodorus pillar
D) All of the above

99. The Shungas are often described in history as ___________.
A) “Restorers of Brahmanism”
B) “Great Buddhist patrons”
C) “First Hindu empire”
D) “Dark rulers”

100. The significance of Shunga–Kanva age in Ancient Indian history lies in ___________.
A) Cultural continuity after Mauryas
B) Resistance and interaction with Indo-Greeks
C) Revival of Hinduism and Sanskrit learning
D) All of the above