Harsha And Rise Of Regional Kingdoms — Exercise Solutions

1. How to Use This Page

Welcome to the complete exercise solutions for Chapter: Harsha And Rise Of Regional Kingdoms from the Class 11 Tamil Nadu State Board History textbook (Samacheer Kalvi).

This guide is structured to help you prepare systematically:

• Quick Recap — Revisit the core concepts before attempting questions.
• MCQs (Section I) — Practise choosing the right option and understand why it is correct.
• Fill in the Blanks (Section II) — Test your recall of key terms, names, and dates.
• True or False (Section III) — Identify common misconceptions; every false statement comes with a correction.
• Match the Following (Section IV) — Strengthen your ability to connect facts across categories.
• Brief Answers (Section V) — Write concise 2-mark answers for board exams.
• Detailed Answers (Section VI) — Develop full 5-mark answers with introductions, body, and conclusions.
• Common Mistakes — Learn what errors students frequently make so you can avoid them.
• Exam Checklist — A final checklist to confirm you are exam-ready.

Tip: Read the textbook chapter first, then attempt each section here. If you get an answer wrong, go back to the relevant textbook section and re-read it before retrying.

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2. Key Concepts (Quick Recap)

Important Rulers and Dynasties

Literary and Epigraphic Sources

Harsha's Empire and Administration

Religious Policy of Harsha

Nalanda University

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3. I. Choose the Best Answer (MCQs)

Q1. Who wrote the biography Harshacharita?

(a) Kalidasa (b) Banabhatta (c) Xuanzang (d) Ravikirti

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Q2. Which Chinese traveller visited India during Harsha's reign and wrote the Si-Yu-Ki?

(a) Fa-Hien (b) Itsing (c) Xuanzang (Hiuen Tsang) (d) Marco Polo

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Q3. Which university flourished and received royal patronage during Harsha's reign?

(a) Takshashila (b) Nalanda (c) Vikramashila (d) Odantapuri

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Q4. Harsha originally worshipped which deity before embracing Buddhism?

(a) Vishnu (b) Surya (c) Shiva (d) Brahma

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Q5. What was Harsha's capital city?

(a) Pataliputra (b) Thaneswar (c) Kanauj (d) Ujjain

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Q6. Which Chalukya king defeated Harsha on the banks of the Narmada?

(a) Vikramaditya I (b) Pulakeshin II (c) Kirtivarman I (d) Vijayaditya

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Q7. The Kadambari, a prose romance, was written by:

(a) Banabhatta (b) Dandin (c) Bharavi (d) Visakhadatta

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Q8. What title did Harsha assume after conquering several kingdoms?

(a) Chakravartin (b) Sakalottarapathanatha (c) Paramabhattaraka (d) Dharanivesa

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4. II. Fill in the Blanks

1. Harshavardhana ascended the throne in 606 CE after the death of his elder brother Rajyavardhana.

2. The capital of Harsha's empire was Kanauj (also called Kanyakubja).

3. Banabhatta wrote the Harshacharita, a biography of Harshavardhana in Sanskrit prose.

4. The Chinese traveller Xuanzang (Hiuen Tsang) visited India during the reign of Harsha and stayed for about fifteen years.

5. Harsha's father Prabhakaravardhana was the ruler of Thaneswar.

6. The Si-Yu-Ki (Records of the Western Regions) is the travel account written by Xuanzang about his journey through Central Asia and India.

7. Nalanda University was a great centre of Buddhist learning that flourished during Harsha's reign.

8. Harsha organised a grand Buddhist assembly at Kannauj in 643 CE, which was presided over by Xuanzang.

9. The Prayaga Assembly was a charitable gathering organised by Harsha where he distributed wealth to Buddhist monks, the poor, and followers of all sects every five years.

10. Pulakeshin II, the Chalukya king of Badami, defeated Harsha on the banks of the Narmada River.

11. After Harsha's death in 647 CE, his empire collapsed because he left no heir to succeed him.

12. The Pratiharas were one of the regional powers that emerged after Harsha's death and eventually controlled Kanauj.

13. Harsha's sister Rajyashri played an important role in his life; her rescue from grief and danger after her husband's death is a key episode in the Harshacharita.

14. Banabhatta's unfinished prose romance Kadambari was completed by his son Bhushanabhatta.

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5. III. True or False (with corrections for false statements)

Q1. Harsha ruled for over 60 years.

Correction: Harshavardhana ruled for approximately 41 years (606–647 CE), not over 60 years.

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Q2. Xuanzang wrote the travel account Si-Yu-Ki describing conditions in India.

Xuanzang (Hiuen Tsang) wrote Si-Yu-Ki (Records of the Western Regions), which is one of the most valuable sources for understanding 7th-century India. It provides detailed descriptions of Indian society, religion, administration, and geography.

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Q3. Harsha was a follower of Buddhism from the very beginning of his reign.

Correction: Harsha was initially a devotee of Shiva (Shaiva). He embraced Mahayana Buddhism later in his life, influenced by the Buddhist monk Divakaramitra and his sister Rajyashri.

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Q4. Nalanda University was destroyed by Bakhtiyar Khalji in the 12th century.

Bakhtiyar Khalji destroyed Nalanda University in 1193 CE. The great library was burned, and the institution, which had been a centre of learning for centuries, was devastated. This event marked the end of one of the world's oldest universities.

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Q5. The Palas of Bengal were patrons of Brahmanical Hinduism.

Correction: The Palas of Bengal were patrons of Buddhism. Under the Palas, Buddhism flourished in Bengal and Bihar. The Pala kings founded and supported major Buddhist monasteries such as Vikramashila and Odantapuri, in addition to patronising Nalanda.

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Q6. Harsha's empire extended up to the river Krishna in the south.

Correction: Harsha's empire extended only up to the Narmada River in the south. His southward expansion was halted by the defeat at the hands of Pulakeshin II of the Chalukya dynasty. The Narmada became the southern boundary of his empire.

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Q7. The Harshacharita provides information about Harsha's entire reign.

Correction: The Harshacharita covers only the early part of Harsha's reign, ending with the recovery of his sister Rajyashri. It does not describe the later years of his rule. For the later period, Xuanzang's Si-Yu-Ki and epigraphic sources are more useful.

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6. IV. Match the Following

Set A — Sources and Authors

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Set B — Kingdoms and Regions

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Set C — Rulers and Capitals

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Set D — Travellers and Countries

(Note: All three major Chinese Buddhist travellers — Fa-Hien, Xuanzang, and Itsing — came from China, but visited India in different centuries.)

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Set E — Assemblies and Events

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Set F — Key Terms and Meanings

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7. V. Answer Briefly (2-Mark Questions)

Q1. What does the Harshacharita tell us about Harsha?

The Harshacharita, written by Banabhatta, is the first historical biography in Sanskrit literature. It narrates Harsha's ancestry from the Pushyabhuti dynasty, his father Prabhakaravardhana's rule at Thaneswar, the murder of his brother-in-law Grahavarman, the death of his elder brother Rajyavardhana, and Harsha's own accession to the throne. It also describes his military campaigns to rescue his sister Rajyashri. Though it covers only the early part of his reign and is written in a courtly style with literary embellishments, it provides valuable information about the political events, court life, and social conditions of the period.

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Q2. Describe Xuanzang's observations about India.

Xuanzang spent about 15 years in India (630–645 CE) and recorded detailed observations in his Si-Yu-Ki. He described the Indian people as honest, truthful, and respectful of learning. He noted that the caste system was prevalent, the roads were safe for travellers, and justice was administered fairly in Harsha's court. He observed that Buddhism was in decline in many parts of India, though it was still flourishing in certain regions. He also reported that vegetarianism was practised by many, and that the country had a rich tradition of philosophical debate and discussion. His account is one of the most comprehensive foreign descriptions of 7th-century India.

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Q3. What was the significance of Nalanda University?

Nalanda University was one of the world's earliest residential universities and a premier centre of Buddhist learning. It had thousands of students and teachers from India and foreign countries such as China, Korea, Tibet, and Central Asia. The curriculum included Buddhist philosophy, logic, grammar, medicine, mathematics, and astronomy. The university maintained a vast library and attracted royal patronage from rulers like Harsha, who endowed it with land revenues from 100 villages. Xuanzang studied at Nalanda and left a detailed account of its grandeur, discipline, and academic rigour.

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Q4. Why did Harsha's empire collapse after his death?

Harsha died in 647 CE without leaving a male heir to succeed him. The absence of a capable successor led to a power vacuum, and his vast empire quickly disintegrated. Regional governors and feudatory chiefs seized the opportunity to declare independence. The administration that had been held together by Harsha's personal authority and military strength could not survive without him. Arunasva, a minister, attempted to resist the Chinese envoy Wang Hiuen-Tse but was defeated. Within a short period, North India fragmented into several regional kingdoms — the Palas in Bengal, the Pratiharas in western India, and the Rashtrakutas in the Deccan — marking the end of the last great empire of ancient North India.

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Q5. What role did Rajyashri play in Harsha's life?

Rajyashri was Harsha's elder sister and the wife of Grahavarman, the Maukhari king of Kanauj. After Grahavarman was killed by the king of Malwa and Rajyashri was captured, Harsha's elder brother Rajyavardhana marched to rescue her but was himself treacherously killed by Sasanka of Gauda. This prompted Harsha to take up arms. He rescued Rajyashri, who was about to commit sati, and her influence, along with that of the Buddhist monk Divakaramitra, played a significant role in turning Harsha towards Buddhism later in his reign.

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8. VI. Answer in Detail (5-Mark Questions)

Q1. Describe the achievements of Harshavardhana as a ruler and patron of learning.

Introduction: Harshavardhana (606–647 CE) was the last great ruler of ancient North India. Belonging to the Pushyabhuti dynasty, he ruled from Kanauj and united a large part of northern India under his authority. He is remembered both as a capable military commander and as a distinguished patron of literature and religion.

Military Achievements: After ascending the throne in 606 CE following the death of his elder brother Rajyavardhana, Harsha embarked on a campaign to avenge his brother's murder and rescue his sister Rajyashri. He defeated the king of Malwa and successfully consolidated his hold over the Maukhari kingdom of Kanauj. Over the next few decades, Harsha conducted military campaigns across North India. By the end of his campaigns, his empire stretched from Punjab in the west to Bengal in the east, and from the Himalayas in the north to the Narmada River in the south. His southward expansion was halted by Pulakeshin II of the Chalukya dynasty, who defeated Harsha on the banks of the Narmada, as recorded in the Aihole inscription.

Administrative Achievements: Harsha maintained a well-organised administration. His empire was divided into provinces called bhuktis, each under a governor. He employed spies (duratas) to keep himself informed about conditions across the kingdom. Land revenue was fixed at one-sixth of the produce. Harsha personally supervised the administration of justice and was known for his strict but fair approach. He reduced the severity of punishments compared to earlier periods, although harsh penalties still existed for serious crimes.

Patron of Learning: Harsha was not only a patron of learning but also a distinguished author himself. He wrote three Sanskrit plays: Nagananda, Ratnavali, and Priyadarsika. His court was graced by Banabhatta, the author of Harshacharita and Kadambari, one of the finest literary minds of the age. Harsha also patronised Nalanda University and endowed it with the revenue from 100 villages. He organised two great assemblies — the Kannauj Assembly (643 CE), a Buddhist philosophical debate attended by scholars from across India and abroad, and the Prayaga Assembly, where he distributed wealth to monks, scholars, and the poor every five years.

Conclusion: Harsha's reign represents the last phase of political unity in ancient North India. His achievements as a ruler who combined military skill with cultural refinement make him one of the most notable figures in Indian history.

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Q2. Explain the political condition of India after Harsha's death.

Introduction: The death of Harshavardhana in 647 CE without a male heir created a political vacuum in North India. The empire that had been held together by his personal authority and military prowess rapidly disintegrated, and India entered a prolonged phase of political fragmentation and the rise of regional kingdoms.

Immediate Aftermath: After Harsha's death, there was no successor capable of holding the empire together. His minister Arunasva tried to assume power but was defeated by the Chinese envoy Wang Hiuen-Tse, who had come seeking tribute. The central authority of Kanauj collapsed, and the feudatory chiefs and provincial governors who had served under Harsha declared independence.

Rise of Regional Kingdoms: Three major dynasties emerged as the dominant powers in the ensuing struggle for supremacy over Kanauj and North India:

1. The Palas of Bengal: Founded by Gopala in the 8th century, the Palas ruled over Bengal and Bihar. Under Dharmapala and Devapala, they extended their influence over large parts of North India. The Palas were great patrons of Buddhism and founded the universities of Vikramashila and Odantapuri.

2. The Pratiharas: Also known as the Gurjara-Pratiharas, they rose to power in western India and eventually captured Kanauj. Under rulers like Bhoja and Mahendrapala, they successfully resisted Arab incursions from Sindh and were involved in the tripartite struggle with the Palas and the Rashtrakutas for control of Kanauj.

3. The Rashtrakutas: Based in the Deccan, the Rashtrakutas under rulers like Dhruva, Govinda III, and Krishna III became a formidable power. They defeated both the Palas and the Pratiharas at different times and briefly controlled Kanauj. They were also patrons of art and architecture, as seen in the rock-cut Kailasa temple at Ellora.

The Tripartite Struggle: The conflict between the Palas, Pratiharas, and Rashtrakutas for control of Kanauj is known as the Tripartite Struggle. Since Kanauj was the symbolic capital of North Indian imperial authority, control over it conferred prestige and legitimacy. This struggle lasted for nearly two centuries and weakened all three powers, eventually paving the way for the rise of new dynasties.

Conclusion: The period after Harsha's death was marked by the absence of a pan-Indian empire and the emergence of powerful regional kingdoms. The political fragmentation lasted for centuries, and it was only with the establishment of the Delhi Sultanate in the 13th century that a measure of political unity was restored to North India.

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Q3. Discuss the significance of Xuanzang's account for understanding 7th-century India.

Introduction: Xuanzang (Hiuen Tsang), the Chinese Buddhist monk and scholar, travelled to India in 630 CE and stayed for approximately fifteen years, returning to China in 645 CE. His travel account, the Si-Yu-Ki (Records of the Western Regions), is one of the most detailed and reliable foreign sources for the study of 7th-century India. His observations cover political, social, religious, and economic aspects of Indian life, making his work invaluable for historians.

Political Information: Xuanzang provides a comprehensive survey of the political conditions of India. He describes Harsha's empire, its administration, and the relationship between the king and his feudatories. He records that Harsha was an active ruler who travelled extensively through his kingdom to supervise administration. He also describes the political conditions in other parts of India — the Chalukyas in the Deccan, the Pallavas in the south, and the king of Kamrupa in Assam. His account is the only detailed contemporary description of the political geography of India in the 7th century.

Social and Economic Conditions: Xuanzang describes the Indian people as honest, truthful, and respectful of learning and scholarship. He notes that the caste system was rigidly observed, with Brahmins occupying the highest social position. He records that agriculture was the primary occupation, that cities were well-planned and prosperous, and that trade flourished both within India and with foreign countries. He also notes that the roads were safe for travellers, which indicates effective law and order under Harsha's administration.

Religious Conditions: One of the most significant aspects of Xuanzang's account is his description of the religious landscape. He observed that Buddhism was in decline in many parts of India, with Hindu temples often replacing Buddhist monasteries. However, he also noted that Buddhism was still flourishing in regions like Magadha and at institutions like Nalanda. He describes the two great Buddhist assemblies organised by Harsha — the Kannauj Assembly and the Prayaga Assembly — providing first-hand testimony of Harsha's religious patronage. He also records the coexistence of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, and the debates between their followers.

Description of Nalanda: Xuanzang's description of Nalanda University is particularly important. He provides details about the curriculum, the admission process, the discipline, and the daily life of the monks. He records that Nalanda had over 10,000 students, a vast library, and attracted scholars from across Asia. His account is crucial for understanding the scale and significance of this institution.

Limitations: While Xuanzang's account is invaluable, it has certain limitations. As a devout Buddhist, he focused more on Buddhist institutions and practices than on other aspects of Indian life. His account sometimes idealises conditions in India, and he may have exaggerated the number of monks and students at Nalanda. Despite these limitations, his work remains the most comprehensive foreign account of 7th-century India.

Conclusion: Xuanzang's Si-Yu-Ki is an indispensable source for the history of early medieval India. His observations about Harsha's administration, the religious landscape, social customs, and educational institutions like Nalanda provide a detailed picture that is not available from any Indian source of the same period. Without his account, our understanding of 7th-century India would be significantly poorer.

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9. Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Placing Harsha before the Guptas: Harsha came after the Gupta period. He ruled in the early 7th century (606–647 CE), while the Gupta Empire was at its peak in the 4th–5th centuries. Do not confuse the chronological order.

2. Saying Harsha was Buddhist from birth: Harsha was initially a Shaiva (worshipper of Shiva). He converted to Buddhism later in his reign, influenced by the monk Divakaramitra and his sister Rajyashri. His early religious affiliations must be stated correctly.

3. Confusing Xuanzang with Fa-Hien: Fa-Hien visited India during the Gupta period (5th century CE), while Xuanzang visited during Harsha's reign (7th century CE). They are two different Chinese travellers separated by over 200 years.

4. Claiming Harsha conquered all of India: Harsha's empire covered much of North India but did not extend south of the Narmada River. Pulakeshin II of the Chalukyas defeated him, limiting his southern boundary.

5. Saying the Harshacharita covers Harsha's entire reign: Banabhatta's Harshacharita covers only the early part of Harsha's reign, ending with the rescue of Rajyashri. It does not describe his later administrative and military achievements.

6. Confusing the Tripartite Struggle with Harsha's empire: The Tripartite Struggle (between Palas, Pratiharas, and Rashtrakutas) occurred after Harsha's death. Harsha was not part of this conflict.

7. Attributing the destruction of Nalanda to Harsha's period: Nalanda was destroyed by Bakhtiyar Khalji in 1193 CE, centuries after Harsha's reign. During Harsha's time, Nalanda was at its peak and received his patronage.

8. Confusing Kanauj with Pataliputra: Kanauj (Kanyakubja) was Harsha's capital, not Pataliputra. Pataliputra had been the Mauryan capital and had declined in importance by Harsha's time.

9. Saying Banabhatta completed the Kadambari: Banabhatta started writing the Kadambari but died before completing it. His son Bhushanabhatta finished the work.

10. Assuming Harsha was the founder of the Pushyabhuti dynasty: The Pushyabhuti dynasty was already established before Harsha. His father Prabhakaravardhana and his elder brother Rajyavardhana ruled before him. Harsha expanded and consolidated the kingdom into an empire.

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10. Exam Checklist

Use this checklist before your exam to ensure you have covered all important topics from this chapter:

• [ ] Harsha's accession — Know the sequence: Prabhakaravardhana → Rajyavardhana → Harshavardhana (606 CE)
• [ ] Harsha's capital — Thaneswar (initial) → Kanauj (Kanyakubja)
• [ ] Harsha's military campaigns — Extent of empire: Punjab to Bengal, Himalayas to Narmada
• [ ] Defeat by Pulakeshin II — Aihole inscription by Ravikirti records this
• [ ] Harshacharita — Author: Banabhatta; content: early life and campaigns only
• [ ] Kadambari — Author: Banabhatta (completed by Bhushanabhatta); nature: prose romance
• [ ] Xuanzang (Hiuen Tsang) — Chinese traveller; stayed 15 years; wrote Si-Yu-Ki
• [ ] Nalanda University — Location, curriculum, patronage by Harsha, destruction by Bakhtiyar Khalji (1193 CE)
• [ ] Harsha's religious policy — Shaiva initially → Mahayana Buddhist later; patronised both
• [ ] Kannauj Assembly (643 CE) — Buddhist debate; Xuanzang presided
• [ ] Prayaga Assembly — Charitable distribution every five years
• [ ] Administration under Harsha — 1/6th tax, spies (duratas), personal court, provinces (bhuktis)
• [ ] Harsha as author — Three plays: Nagananda, Ratnavali, Priyadarsika
• [ ] After Harsha's death — No heir; empire collapsed; Arunasva defeated by Chinese envoy
• [ ] Tripartite Struggle — Palas vs. Pratiharas vs. Rashtrakutas for control of Kanauj
• [ ] Palas of Bengal — Gopala (founder), Dharmapala, Devapala; patrons of Buddhism; founded Vikramashila and Odantapuri
• [ ] Pratiharas — Controlled Kanauj; resisted Arab invasions; notable rulers: Bhoja, Mahendrapala
• [ ] Rashtrakutas — Deccan power; Krishna I built Kailasa temple at Ellora; defeated both Palas and Pratiharas
• [ ] Key dates — 606 CE (Harsha's accession), 643 CE (Kannauj Assembly), 647 CE (Harsha's death), 1193 CE (Nalanda destroyed)
• [ ] Key sources — Literary: Harshacharita, Kadambari, Si-Yu-Ki; Epigraphic: Banskhera plates, Madhuvan plates, Aihole inscription