Prelims Question
Question: Which of the following statements is not related with the Magasthenes’ Account of India-
a. Slavery did not exist in the Indian society.
b. Wine was used only during Yagnas.
c. Indica mentions about the Sati System.
d. India had never experienced a famine.
Answer: (c)
Explanation: Magasthenes travelled India as an ambassador of Greek worrier Seleucus Nikator, during the reign of Chandragupta. However, his original text ‘Indica’ has not been recovered, but excerpts from different travelers’ account give us the information about this text.
According to Magasthenes, Chandragupta Maurya was the ruler of Patliputra. He emphasized that, there was no slavery in India and the society was divided into seven different casts. India had never experienced any famine. Rice was the staple food and wine was used only during Yagnas. Moreover, Indica has no reference of Sati System, it only has reference of the Arsh Vivah system.