Prelims 2025 · Q14
Mediumप्राचीन भारत में इनमें से किस शासक ने ‘मत्तविलास’, ‘विचित्रचित्त’ और ‘गुणभरा’ उपाधियाँ धारण की थीं?
Read this question in English
Who among the following rulers in ancient India had assumed the titles 'Mattavilasa', 'Vichitrachitta' and 'Gunabhara'?
(a) Mahendravarman I · (b) Simhavishnu · (c) Narasimhavarman I · (d) Simhavarman
उत्तर और व्याख्या · explanation in English
Answer: (a) महेन्द्रवर्मन प्रथम
The Mandagapattu inscription mentions the Pallava king Mahendravarman I, who ruled in the seventh century, with numerous titles such as Vichitrachitta (curious-minded), one of the three titles the question names. He was also a fine poet who left a satirical Sanskrit play.
- ✓ (a) Mahendravarman I, who ruled in the seventh century and built temples at Panamalai, Mandagapattu and Kanchipuram, is the king the Mandagapattu inscription credits with titles such as Vichitrachitta (curious-minded) and Chitrakarapuli (tiger among artists).
- ✗ (c) Narasimhavarman I, the son of Mahendravarman I, was also known as Mamalla ('wrestler' or 'warrior'); NCERT notes that he defeated Pulakeshin II and went on to capture Badami. That is not the set of titles in the question.
- ✗ (b) Simhavishnu is not the Pallava king whom NCERT links with the Mandagapattu inscription's titles such as Vichitrachitta; that is Mahendravarman I.
Remember · Mahendravarman I (Pallava, 7th century): titles such as Vichitrachitta and Chitrakarapuli at Mandagapattu; poet of a satirical Sanskrit play; rock-cut temples at Mandagapattu. His son Narasimhavarman I = Mamalla.
📘 Read it in NCERT: Class 11 An Introduction to Indian Art, Part I, Ch 5 (practise this chapter) · Class 7 Exploring Society: India and Beyond (Part 2), Ch 3 (practise this chapter) · Class 7 Exploring Society: India and Beyond (Part 2), Ch 3 (practise this chapter) · Class 11 An Introduction to Indian Art, Part I, Ch 5 (practise this chapter) · Class 11 An Introduction to Indian Art, Part I, Ch 5 (practise this chapter)
Sources
- NCERT Class 11 · An Introduction to Indian Art, Part I, Chapter 5 “The inscription at Mandagapattu mentions Mahendravarman I with numerous titles such as Vichitrachitta (curious-minded),”
- NCERT Class 7 · Exploring Society: India and Beyond (Part 2), Chapter 3 “Mahendravarman I himself was a fine poet who left a satirical Sanskrit play.”
- NCERT Class 7 · Exploring Society: India and Beyond (Part 2), Chapter 3 “The latter was also known as 'Mamalla', which means 'wrestler' or 'warrior'; indeed, it was he who defeated Pulakeshin II and went on to capture Badami.”
- NCERT Class 11 · An Introduction to Indian Art, Part I, Chapter 5 “Chitrakarapuli (tiger among artists), Chaityakari (temple builder), which show his interest in art activities.”
- NCERT Class 11 · An Introduction to Indian Art, Part I, Chapter 5 “Mahendravarma I who ruled in the seventh century was responsible for building temples at Panamalai, Mandagapattu and Kanchipuram.”
Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2025, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 1 Oct 2026 (how we verify). Permalink ·