Multiple choice

Who was this king referred to as Piyadassi in ancient texts?

  1. Bimbisara

  2. Ajatashttu

  3. Mahapadma Nanda

  4. Chandragupta Maurya

  5. Ashoka

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

This is the correct answer. James Prinsep found that most of the inscriptions on coins mentioned a king referred to as Piyadassi – meaning “pleasant to behold”; there were a few inscriptions which also referred to the king as Asoka, one of the most famous rulers known from the Buddhist texts.