Which one of the following ancient Indian records is the earliest royal order to preserve foodgrains to be utilised during the crises in the country ?

1. Introduction to Ancient Indian Epigraphy (basic)

Welcome to your first step in understanding the Mauryan Empire! To understand the polity (the system of government) of ancient India, we must first look at our primary source of evidence: Epigraphy. Epigraphy is simply the study of inscriptions—writings engraved on hard surfaces like stone, metal, or pottery. These are incredibly valuable to historians because, unlike palm-leaf manuscripts that decay over time, inscriptions are permanent 'time capsules' that tell us exactly what a king wanted his people to know THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART I, Kings, Farmers and Towns, p.28.

For a long time, these ancient messages were a mystery. The breakthrough came in the 1830s when James Prinsep, an officer in the East India Company mint, deciphered Brahmi and Kharosthi, the two earliest scripts used in India. Prinsep discovered that many of these inscriptions referred to a king named Piyadassi (meaning "pleasant to behold"), whom we now know as Emperor Ashoka. It is vital to distinguish between a language (what is spoken, like Prakrit) and a script (the characters used for writing, like Brahmi). While most of the common people spoke Prakrit, the Mauryan state used the Brahmi script to record its laws and orders across the empire Exploring Society: India and Beyond, The Rise of Empires, p.105.

While we often think of Ashoka's moral edicts, epigraphy also reveals the administrative grit of the empire. For example, the Sohgaura copper-plate inscription (found in modern Uttar Pradesh) is one of the earliest known royal orders. It specifically mentions the establishment of state granaries to store food as a precaution against famine. This shows us that the Mauryan state wasn't just about symbols; it had a sophisticated system for social welfare and disaster management Exploring Society: India and Beyond, The Rise of Empires, p.108.

Term	Definition	Mauryan Example
Epigraphy	The study of inscriptions.	Ashokan Pillar Edicts.
Script	The visual symbols used to write.	Brahmi (The mother of most Indian scripts).
Language	The spoken medium of communication.	Prakrit (The language of the masses).

Sources: THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART I, Kings, Farmers and Towns, p.28, 46; Exploring Society: India and Beyond, The Rise of Empires, p.105, 108; History, class XI (Tamilnadu state board), Emergence of State and Empire, p.47

2. Mauryan Welfare State & Kautilyan Administration (basic)

To understand the Mauryan Welfare State, we must first look at its core philosophy: Paternal Despotism. In this system, the King was not just a remote ruler but a father figure who felt a direct responsibility for the well-being of his subjects. This wasn't just a moral ideal; it was backed by a massive, centralized bureaucracy. As noted in History, class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.), Emergence of State and Empire, p.53, this hierarchy stretched from the smallest village to the imperial capital, ensuring that the state could efficiently collect taxes, maintain security, and administer justice.

The most fascinating aspect of Mauryan administration is how it handled crises like famines. While later colonial administrations often neglected famine relief, the Mauryan state took proactive measures. The Sohgaura copper-plate inscription (dating to the 4th–3rd century BCE) serves as a remarkable primary source here. It explicitly records the establishment of state granaries to store grain as a precaution against food shortages. This is considered the earliest known royal order for foodgrain preservation in ancient India, proving that the state functioned as a social safety net long before modern welfare concepts existed.

To get a complete picture, historians look at a "triad" of sources: the Arthashastra (a manual of statecraft), Megasthenes' Indika (observations by a Greek ambassador), and Ashoka’s Edicts (moral proclamations). While the Arthashastra provided the prescriptive rules for running a kingdom, the inscriptions like those at Sohgaura show us how these rules were applied on the ground to protect the populace. History, class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.), Emergence of State and Empire, p.54.

Source Type	Key Contribution to Administrative History
Arthashastra	Prescriptive guidelines on revenue, justice, and foreign policy.
Ashokan Edicts	Focus on Dhamma (moral governance) and public welfare.
Sohgaura Plate	Practical evidence of famine-relief through state granaries.

Sources: History, class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.), Emergence of State and Empire, p.53-54; Exploring Society: India and Beyond, Social Science, Class VIII (NCERT 2025 ed.), The Rise of Empires, p.108

3. Ashokan Edicts: Content and Administrative Directives (intermediate)

When we look at the Ashokan Edicts, we aren't just looking at religious sermons; we are looking at the earliest administrative manual of India etched in stone. These 33 inscriptions—ranging from Major Rock Edicts to Pillar Edicts—served as a direct bridge between the Emperor and his subjects, defining the geographical and moral boundaries of the Mauryan Empire. History, class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.), Emergence of State and Empire, p.52

One of the most fascinating aspects of Ashoka’s rule was his administrative transparency. In Major Rock Edict 6, he declared that he should be informed about state affairs at all times and in all places, whether he was eating, in the harem, or in the gardens. This reflects a shift from a secluded monarch to a public servant. To ensure his philosophy of Dhamma (righteousness) reached every corner, he utilized a specialized hierarchy of officials:

• Yuktas: Subordinate officials who managed state accounting and secretarial work.
• Rajjukas: Rural administrators who were later given the power to reward and punish, effectively acting as provincial judges.
• Pradesikas: Heads of the districts who performed both judicial and revenue functions.

According to Major Rock Edict 3, these officials were mandated to go on a tour every five years (known as Anusamyana) to instruct the public in both administrative duties and the principles of Dhamma. History, class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.), Emergence of State and Empire, p.55

While Ashoka's edicts focus heavily on moral governance and religious tolerance (specifically highlighted in Major Rock Edicts 7 and 12), it is important to distinguish them from other early records. For instance, if we look for the earliest record of state famine relief, we actually look just before Ashoka's time to the Sohgaura copper-plate. This Pre-Ashokan (or early Mauryan) record specifically mentions the establishment of state granaries to combat famine, a level of specific emergency administrative detail that complements the moral directives found in the later Ashokan corpus. History, class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.), Emergence of State and Empire, p.57

Official	Primary Role in Edicts
Yuktas	Subordinate/Secretarial roles
Rajjukas	Rural administration and justice
Pradesikas	District administration/Head of district

Sources: History, class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.), Emergence of State and Empire, p.52, 55, 57

4. Water Management and Economic Life in Ancient India (intermediate)

In ancient India, the legitimacy of a ruler was deeply tied to their ability to ensure the prosperity of their subjects. Since agriculture was the backbone of the economy, the state took an active role in water management and disaster mitigation. This wasn't just philanthropy; it was sound economic policy. A stable water supply meant consistent crop yields, which in turn ensured steady tax revenue for the imperial treasury. This proactive governance is most clearly seen in the Mauryan period through the construction of massive irrigation projects and the establishment of a state-led social safety net.

One of the most remarkable examples of Mauryan engineering and administrative continuity is the Sudarshana Lake in Girnar, Gujarat. Originally an artificial reservoir, it was built by Pushyagupta, the provincial governor (rashtriya) under Emperor Chandragupta Maurya History, Class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.), Emergence of State and Empire, p.47. The state's commitment to this infrastructure spanned centuries; later, under Ashoka, water channels were added, and significantly later in the 2nd century CE, the Shaka ruler Rudradaman repaired the lake using his own resources after a catastrophic storm, notably without imposing extra taxes on his subjects Themes in Indian History Part I, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.), Kings, Farmers and Towns, p.38. This demonstrates that irrigation was viewed as a primary responsibility of the sovereign, regardless of their dynastic origin.

Beyond irrigation, the Mauryan state developed sophisticated strategies for famine relief. The Sohgaura copper-plate inscription (dating to the 4th–3rd century BCE) serves as a vital historical record of this. It is the earliest known royal order in India that explicitly mentions the establishment of state granaries. These storehouses were strategically located to preserve food grains, ensuring that the population had access to rations during times of drought or crop failure. While Ashokan edicts focused largely on Dhamma and administrative ethics, the Sohgaura record provides specific evidence of the practical, ground-level economic measures taken to protect the empire's human capital during natural disasters.

Sources: History, Class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.), Emergence of State and Empire, p.47; Themes in Indian History Part I, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.), Kings, Farmers and Towns, p.38; Themes in Indian History Part I, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.), Kinship, Caste and Class, p.63

5. Gupta Era Records: Prayaga-Prasasti and Mehrauli (intermediate)

To understand the Gupta era, we must look at how the nature of royal records shifted from the administrative and moral focus of the Mauryas to the eulogistic and poetic style of the Guptas. While the Mauryan period gave us practical records like the Sohgaura copper plate (which detailed state granaries for famine relief), the Gupta records are famous for their Prasastis — grand inscriptions composed in praise of kings.

The Prayaga-Prasasti (also known as the Allahabad Pillar Inscription) is perhaps the most significant of these. It was composed by Harishena, the court poet of Samudragupta, who is often considered the most powerful Gupta ruler THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART I, Kings, Farmers and Towns, p.37. Written in 33 lines of elegant Sanskrit using the Nagari script, it moves away from the Prakrit common in earlier eras History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.), The Guptas, p.89. It doesn't just list conquests; it paints Samudragupta as a multi-faceted genius — a scholar, a devotee of Vishnu, and a 'Kaviraja' (King of Poets) who was skilled in playing the vina (lute) History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.), The Guptas, p.92.

Another marvel is the Mehrauli Iron Pillar in Delhi. This inscription mentions a king named 'Chandra,' generally identified as Chandragupta II (Vikramaditya) Exploring Society:India and Beyond, Social Science-Class VII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025), The Gupta Era, p.149. While it records his military achievements, it is equally famous for its advanced metallurgy, as the iron has remained virtually rust-free for over 1,600 years. Unlike the early records of famine relief or Buddhist ethics, these Gupta inscriptions focus on imperial authority, lineage, and cultural patronage.

Feature	Sohgaura Record (Pre-Gupta)	Gupta Records (Prayaga/Mehrauli)
Primary Tone	Administrative / Practical	Eulogistic / Poetic (Prasasti)
Language	Prakrit	Classical Sanskrit
Key Focus	Granaries & Famine Relief	Military Conquests & Artistic Skills

Sources: THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART I, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.), Kings, Farmers and Towns, p.37; History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.), The Guptas, p.89, 92; Exploring Society:India and Beyond ,Social Science-Class VII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025), The Gupta Era: An Age of Tireless Creativity, p.149

6. Early Famine Relief: Sohgaura and Mahasthan Records (exam-level)

In the study of Mauryan polity, we often focus on Ashoka’s moral edicts, but the foundations of the empire’s administrative excellence were laid even earlier. One of the most remarkable examples of this is the Sohgaura copper plate inscription (found in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh). Dating back to the 4th–3rd century BCE, it is arguably the earliest known royal order in India dedicated to famine relief. Unlike later inscriptions that often focused on land grants to religious institutions, this record is purely administrative. It explicitly mentions the establishment of state granaries to store grain as a precaution against drought and famine, ensuring food security for the populace Exploring Society:India and Beyond, Social Science-Class VII, The Rise of Empires, p.108.

While the Sohgaura plate is the primary record for this period, it is often studied alongside the Mahasthan inscription found in modern-day Bangladesh. Both records share critical features: they are written in Prakrit using the Brahmi script and are believed to belong to the reign of Chandragupta Maurya. These records reveal a sophisticated welfare state model where the king didn't just collect taxes but also took responsibility for the survival of his subjects during natural disasters. This contrasts sharply with the later colonial era, where despite recurring famines, food was often exported for profit while millions starved History, class XII (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.), Rise of Nationalism in India, p.3.

Feature	Sohgaura/Mahasthan Records	Later Land Grant Inscriptions
Primary Purpose	Famine relief and state granaries	Religious endowments and land transactions
Language	Prakrit (Early Mauryan style)	Often Sanskrit or bilingual (local languages)
Key Theme	Administrative welfare and food security	Social stratification and temple donations

Sources: Exploring Society:India and Beyond, Social Science-Class VII, The Rise of Empires, p.108; History, class XII (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.), Rise of Nationalism in India, p.3; THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART I, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.), Kings, Farmers and Towns, p.40

7. Solving the Original PYQ (exam-level)

Having explored the evolution of early Indian administration and the role of epigraphy, you can now see how specific inscriptions serve as primary evidence for state-sponsored welfare. This question bridges your understanding of the Mauryan administrative apparatus with the practical necessity of disaster management in ancient times. While you have studied the vastness of Ashokan edicts, this specific record, the Sohagaura Copper-plate, represents a unique category of early administrative orders focused on economic security and social safety nets rather than moral or religious proclamations.

To arrive at the correct answer, you must focus on the specific function of the record: famine relief. As noted in Exploring Society: India and Beyond (NCERT Class VII, 2025), the Sohgaura Copper-plate (4th–3rd century BCE) is a rare pre-Ashokan or early Mauryan document that mentions the establishment of state granaries to be used during times of crisis. Because it is one of the very few surviving copper-plate inscriptions from this era and specifically details the preservation of foodgrains, (A) Sohagaura Copper-plate is the only option that fulfills both the chronological requirement of being the "earliest" and the functional requirement of a royal order for grain storage.

UPSC often uses famous inscriptions as "distractors" to test your precision regarding their content and timeframe. For instance, the Rummindei pillar-edict is Ashokan, but it records a tax exemption at Buddha's birthplace, not food storage. The Prayaga-Prasasti and Mehrauli Pillar belong to the Gupta period, making them centuries too late to be the "earliest" records. By distinguishing between a Prasasti (eulogy) and a Royal Order (administrative command) as described in History (Tamilnadu State Board Class XI, 2024), you can easily filter out these later-period traps and identify the correct historical context.