Simuka:

• Considered the founder of the Satavahana dynasty.
• Known for constructing Jain and Buddhist temples, demonstrating a religiously tolerant approach.

Satakarni I (70-60 BCE):

• The third king of the Satavahanas, Satakarni I was the first to expand the empire through military conquests.
• Conquered Kalinga after the demise of Kharavela and pushed back the Sungas in Pataliputra.
• Extended his rule to Madhya Pradesh and assumed the title “Lord of Dakshinapatha” after annexing the Godavari Valley.
• His queen, Nayanika, authored the Naneghat inscription, referring to the king as Dakshinapathapati.
• Revived Vedic Brahmanism in the Deccan and performed the Ashvamedha ritual.

Hala:

• King Hala compiled the Gatha Saptashati, also known as Gaha Sattasai in Prakrit, a collection of poems primarily themed around love.
• Around forty of the poems in the collection are attributed to Hala himself.
• His minister Gunadhya composed the Brihatkatha, a significant literary work in Sanskrit.

Gautamiputra Satakarni (106 – 130 AD or 86 – 110 AD):

• Considered the greatest king of the Satavahana dynasty, Gautamiputra Satakarni restored the fortunes of the dynasty.
• He regained territories lost in the upper Deccan and western India, defeating adversaries like Nahapana of the Western Satraps.
• His kingdom extended from Krishna in the south to Malwa and Saurashtra in the north, and from Berar in the east to the Konkan in the west.
• Described in inscriptions as the destroyer of the Shakas, Pahlavas, and Yavanas (Greeks), and the uprooter of the Kshaharatas, he was given titles like Rajaraja and Maharaja.
• Known for donating land to Buddhist monks, as mentioned in the Karle inscription near Pune, Maharashtra.

Vashishthiputra Pulumayi (c. 130 – 154 CE):

• The immediate successor of Gautamiputra, Vashishthiputra Pulumayi’s coins and inscriptions are primarily found in Andhra.
• According to Junagadh inscriptions, he was married to the daughter of Rudradaman I.
• The Shaka-Kshatrapas of western India regained some territories due to his engagements in the east.

Yajna Sri Satakarni (c. 165 – 194 CE):

• A later king of the Satavahana dynasty, Yajna Sri Satakarni recovered territories like north Kokan and Malwa from the Shaka rulers.
• Known for his interest in trade and navigation, as evidenced by the motif of a ship on his coins found in Andhra, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat.

Q. The Prakrit text ‘Gathasaptasati’ is attributed to the Satavahana king

(a) Vasishtiputra Pulumavi (b) Hala

(c) Gautamiputra Satkarni (d) Amaru

Answer: B