Let's analyze the passage and the options to find the most appropriate word for blank number 4. The passage discusses a significant archaeological find regarding an ancient inscription.

The sentence containing blank 4 reads: "The inscription is in Sanskrit and in Brahmi characters and was (4) ______ by Satavahana King Vijaya in 207 A.D." This sentence tells us about the origin of the inscription and its creator, Satavahana King Vijaya.

We need a word that describes the action of a king creating or releasing an official document or record like an inscription.

Analyzing the Options for Blank 4

Let's look at each provided option and see how well it fits the context of a king and an inscription:

• refused: This means to decline or reject something. A king refusing an inscription doesn't make sense in this context. An inscription is usually something created, not refused, by the person whose actions or decree it records.
• chased: This means to pursue someone or something. Kings don't "chase" inscriptions. This word is completely out of context for a document like an inscription.
• issued: This means to formally produce or distribute something, especially an official document, decree, or stamp. Kings often issue decrees, coins, or inscriptions to communicate information, record events, or assert authority. This fits perfectly with the idea of Satavahana King Vijaya creating and making known this inscription.
• denied: This means to state that something is not true or to refuse access to something. A king denying an inscription doesn't fit the context of its creation.

Identifying the Correct Word

Based on the analysis, the word "issued" is the most appropriate choice for blank number 4. Kings are known to issue official documents and records, and an inscription serves this purpose. The phrase "was issued by Satavahana King Vijaya" clearly indicates that the king was responsible for its creation and publication.

Therefore, the completed sentence should be: "The inscription is in Sanskrit and in Brahmi characters and was issued by Satavahana King Vijaya in 207 A.D."

Contextual Understanding of the Passage

The passage describes the discovery of an important inscription related to the Saptamatrika cult. It highlights its significance as the earliest evidence for this cult found by the Archaeological Survey of India's Epigraphy Branch and also as the earliest Sanskrit inscription in South India discovered to date. The inscription's details, including its language, script, and the king who issued it (Satavahana King Vijaya), are crucial pieces of information conveyed by the text.

The word "issued" is commonly used in historical and archaeological contexts to describe the creation or release of official records, edicts, or inscriptions by rulers.

Revision Table: Satavahana King Vijaya Inscription

Additional Information: Ancient Inscriptions and Epigraphy

Inscriptions are writings engraved on solid surfaces like stone, metal, wood, or clay. They are primary sources of historical information, providing insights into political events, social structures, religious practices, and administrative policies of the past. The study of inscriptions is called epigraphy.

• Epigraphy: The study of inscriptions or epigraphs. It involves deciphering, interpreting, and analyzing inscriptions to understand historical contexts.
• Brahmi Script: One of the oldest writing systems of ancient South Asia and Central Asia. Many early Indian inscriptions, including those from the Satavahana period, are written in Brahmi script.
• Satavahana Dynasty: An ancient South Indian dynasty that ruled over parts of present-day Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, and Karnataka. Kings like Vijaya were part of this significant lineage known for supporting art, architecture, and literature.
• Saptamatrika Cult: The worship of a group of seven mother goddesses in Hinduism. Early evidence of such cults is historically significant for understanding religious developments.

Understanding the vocabulary related to historical records and official actions of rulers is important for comprehending such passages. Words like "issued," "decreed," "proclaimed," or "engraved" are common in the context of ancient inscriptions.