In the age of the Mahajanapadas, which Mahajanapada named Assaka was situated on the banks of the river Godavari in the southern part of the subcontinent?

Introduction / Context:
In the sixth century BCE, the Indian subcontinent saw the rise of several large states known as Mahajanapadas. These were important political and cultural centres and are often mentioned in Buddhist and Jain texts. Each Mahajanapada had a particular geographical location, often associated with a river or region. Competitive exams frequently test your ability to match a Mahajanapada with the river or area where it was located. This question focuses on the Mahajanapada that lay along the Godavari river in the southern part of the subcontinent.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The Mahajanapada in question is located on the banks of the river Godavari.
• It is situated further south compared to many other Mahajanapadas.
• The options list Avanti, Vatsa, Assaka and Kamboja, along with Magadha in option E.
• We must identify which of these corresponds to the Godavari based Mahajanapada.

Concept / Approach:
Most Mahajanapadas like Magadha, Vatsa and Avanti were located in the Gangetic plains or central India. Assaka, sometimes spelled Asmaka, is distinctive because it is placed on the banks of the river Godavari, further south than the others. Texts describe it as lying in what is now parts of Maharashtra and Telangana. Kamboja, on the other hand, was situated in the northwestern frontier region. Therefore, the Mahajanapada associated with the Godavari river is Assaka.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the list of sixteen Mahajanapadas mentioned in ancient texts. Step 2: Remember that Magadha was in the lower Gangetic basin, Vatsa near modern Allahabad region, Avanti around Malwa, and Kamboja in the far northwest. Step 3: Identify that Assaka or Asmaka was the only major Mahajanapada located further south, on the banks of the river Godavari. Step 4: Compare this information with the options and note that Assaka exactly matches the description in the question. Step 5: Select Assaka as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
If you consult maps of the sixteen Mahajanapadas, Assaka is consistently shown in the Deccan region along the Godavari river. Descriptions in early Buddhist texts like the Anguttara Nikaya also place Assaka in the south relative to the other Mahajanapadas. No credible source places Avanti, Vatsa, Magadha or Kamboja on the Godavari, which confirms that Assaka is the only matching Mahajanapada.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Avanti: Located in the Malwa region around Ujjain, associated with the Narmada and other central rivers, not the Godavari. Vatsa: Centred around modern Allahabad in the Gangetic area, far from the Godavari. Kamboja: A northwestern frontier Mahajanapada, possibly in the region of modern Afghanistan or northwest Pakistan. Magadha: Situated in eastern India in today s Bihar and parts of Jharkhand, connected with rivers like the Ganga and Son, not the Godavari.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes memorise the names of the Mahajanapadas without linking them to their real geographical positions. Another frequent error is to assume that any Mahajanapada could be on any major river. In fact, each had a fairly distinct location. To avoid confusion, visualise a map with Magadha in the east, Avanti in central India, Kamboja in the northwest and Assaka down south along the Godavari. This mental map will help you quickly answer questions about their locations.

Final Answer:
The Mahajanapada situated on the banks of the Godavari river was Assaka.