Gupta Records Terminology for Tanks and Ponds
During the Gupta period (circa 320–550 CE), a significant era in ancient India, administrative and public works were often documented using specific terminology. Understanding these terms is key to interpreting historical records accurately. Water management, including the construction and naming of tanks and ponds, was vital for agriculture and daily life.
Analyzing Historical Terms for Water Bodies
Gupta inscriptions and literature mention various terms related to water sources. Let's examine the options provided to identify the correct term for tanks or ponds used during that era:
| Term | General Meaning | Usage in Gupta Context |
| Nadi | River or stream | Refers to flowing water bodies, not static tanks or ponds. |
| Prapa | A place for offering water, often a water-shed or charitable water station. | Typically associated with resting places or water distribution points, not storage tanks themselves. |
| Kshetra | Field, area, or site. | Used broadly for land or agricultural fields; not specific to water storage structures. |
| Tadaga | Tank, reservoir, or pond (often man-made). | This term is frequently found in Gupta inscriptions and literature to denote artificial reservoirs or tanks built for storing water. |
Identifying the Correct Term: Tadaga
Historical evidence, including epigraphical records from the Gupta age, confirms that the term Tadaga (Sanskrit: tadāga) was commonly used to refer to tanks or artificial ponds. These structures were essential for water conservation and management, serving purposes like irrigation and providing water supply to communities. For instance, inscriptions might detail the construction or maintenance of a tadaga.
Therefore, among the given options, Tadaga is the specific term used in Gupta records for tanks or ponds.
Important Questions from Gupta Age
Which one of the following was composed by Harishena?
The last recognised king of the Gupta kingdom was _______.
When did the Vikrama Era begin?
Who among the following rulers is called the ‘Napoleon of India’?
Who wrote Samudragupta's prashasti (a eulogy written in the form of poetry or prose, usually by court poets) at Allahabad?
