The kingdoms of the Tamil land find mention in which of the following?

Megasthenes’ work

Major Rock Edict II of Ashoka

Hathi gumpha inscription of Kharavela

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Question

Pandyas were the first south Indian kingdom to be mentioned by Megasthenes (the first literary evidence about the south Indian kingdoms).
There is also mention of the three kingdoms—Pandyas, Cholas and Cheras—as neighbours in the Asokan inscriptions, particularly the Major Rock Edict II.
The Hathi-gumpha inscription of Kharavela contains the only early epigraphic reference to the kingdoms of the Tamil country after the Asokan inscriptions. Kharavela is said to have destroyed a confederacy of Tamil states—‘Tramiradesa sanghatam’.
However the primary source for the Sangam period is the Sangam literature, which refers primarily to the Pandyas though it also contains information about the Cholas and the Cheras.

GKToday Admin · Accepted Answer

1, 2 & 3

Pandyas were the first south Indian kingdom to be mentioned by Megasthenes (the first literary evidence about the south Indian kingdoms).
There is also mention of the three kingdoms—Pandyas, Cholas and Cheras—as neighbours in the Asokan inscriptions, particularly the Major Rock Edict II.
The Hathi-gumpha inscription of Kharavela contains the only early epigraphic reference to the kingdoms of the Tamil country after the Asokan inscriptions. Kharavela is said to have destroyed a confederacy of Tamil states—‘Tramiradesa sanghatam’.
However the primary source for the Sangam period is the Sangam literature, which refers primarily to the Pandyas though it also contains information about the Cholas and the Cheras.

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