Question

Among the 16th Mahajanapadas, which one was situated on the bank of river Godavari?
1. Anga
2. Avanti
3. Asmak
4. None of the above

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 3 : Asmak

The term "Janapada" literally means the foothold of a people. 

• The fact that Janapada is derived from Jana points to an early stage of land-taking by the Jana people for a settled way of life. 
• This process of settlement on land had completed its final stage prior to the times of the Buddha. 
• The Pre-Buddhist north-west region of the Indian subcontinent was divided into several Janapadas, demarcated from each other by boundaries. 
• Buddhist texts refer to sixteen great nations (Solasa Mahajanapadas) that existed prior to the time of the Buddha.

 

 

The country of Assaka or the Ashmaka tribe was located in southern India.

• It included areas in present-day Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Maharashtra. 
• In Gautama Buddha's time, many of the Assakas were located on the banks of the Godavari River (south of the Vindhya mountains).
• The capital of the Assakas was Potana or Potali. 
• The Ashmakas are also mentioned by Panini. They are placed in the northwest in the Markendeya Purana and the Brahat Samhita.
• The river Godavari separated the country of the Assakas from that of the Mulakas (or Alakas). 

Sixteen Mhajanpadas are: 

Anga	Assaka/Asmaka
Avanti	Chedi
Gandhara	Kashi
Kamboja	Kosala
Kuru	Magadha
Malla	Panchala
Machcha/Matsya	Surasana
Vriji	Vatsa/Vamsa