Chhatrapati Sambhaji (1680–1688 CE), who succeeded Shivaji, was a ruler belonging to which dynasty?

Introduction / Context:
This question is about the dynastic affiliation of Chhatrapati Sambhaji, the son and successor of Shivaji. Sambhaji ruled in the late 17th century and continued the struggle against the Mughal Empire. Knowing which dynasty he belonged to helps link the broader narrative of Maratha resistance and expansion in early modern India.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- The question names Chhatrapati Sambhaji and gives his ruling period as 1680–1688 CE.
- Options include the Maratha, Nanda, Haryanka and Maurya dynasties.
- It is assumed that you can distinguish between ancient dynasties (Nanda, Haryanka, Maurya) and early modern ones like the Marathas.

Concept / Approach:
Chhatrapati Shivaji founded the Maratha kingdom in the mid-17th century. Sambhaji, his elder son, succeeded him and ruled as the second Maratha Chhatrapati. The Nanda, Haryanka and Maurya dynasties belong to ancient Indian history, centuries earlier. Therefore, the only dynasty that fits Sambhaji's time, region and title is the Maratha dynasty.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Place Sambhaji in time: he ruled from 1680 to 1688 CE, directly after Shivaji's death. Step 2: Recognize that Shivaji established the Maratha kingdom in the Deccan, and his successors, including Sambhaji, carried the Maratha legacy. Step 3: Nanda, Haryanka and Maurya are all ancient dynasties associated with Magadha in the pre-Mauryan and Mauryan periods, not with 17th-century Deccan politics. Step 4: Therefore, the correct dynasty for Sambhaji is the Maratha dynasty, so option A is correct.

Verification / Alternative check:
A quick check is to connect well-known rulers to their dynasties: Shivaji, Sambhaji, Rajaram and later Peshwas all belong to the Maratha political tradition. In contrast, rulers like Bimbisara (Haryanka), Mahapadma Nanda (Nanda) and Ashoka (Maurya) belong to ancient Magadhan dynasties. The enormous difference in time period and geography confirms that Sambhaji cannot belong to those ancient dynasties.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option B, Nanda, refers to a pre-Mauryan dynasty ruling in Magadha around the 4th century BCE. Option C, Haryanka, is an even earlier Magadhan dynasty to which Bimbisara belonged. Option D, Maurya, is the dynasty of Chandragupta Maurya and Ashoka, again ancient and centred on Magadha. None of these has any direct connection to the 17th-century Deccan kingdom founded by Shivaji, so they are all incorrect for Sambhaji.

Common Pitfalls:
The main pitfall is not paying attention to chronological and regional clues and instead simply picking a familiar dynasty name like Maurya. Another mistake is to overlook that “Chhatrapati” is a title particularly associated with Maratha kings. Always cross-check the time period and geographic base of a ruler before assigning a dynasty.

Final Answer:
Chhatrapati Sambhaji (1680–1688 CE) was a ruler of the Maratha dynasty.