Consider the following Mahajanapadas of ancient India and their corresponding capitals: 1. Magadha - Rajgir 2. Vatsa - Kausambi 3. Avanti - Ujjain 4. Matsya - Viratnagar Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

💡 Solution & Explanation

All the listed pairs of Mahajanapadas and their ancient capitals are accurately matched according to Buddhist texts like the Anguttara Nikaya. Magadha initially had its capital at Rajgir before shifting to Pataliputra, Vatsa was centered around Kausambi on the Yamuna river, Avanti was divided into northern and southern parts with capitals at Ujjain and Mahishmati, and Matsya was centered around Viratnagar. The period of Mahajanapadas witnessed the second major urbanization in Indian history. Gandhara had its capital at Taxila.