Question

Find Girnar on Map 2. The Sudarshana lake was an artificial reservoir. We know about it from a rock inscription (c. second century CE) in Sanskrit, composed to record the achievements of the Shaka ruler Rudradaman. The inscription mentions that the lake, with embankments and water channels, was built by a local governor during the rule of the Mauryas. However, a terrible storm broke the embankments and water gushed out of the lake. Rudradaman, who was then ruling in the area, claimed to have got the lake repaired using his own resources, without imposing any tax on his subjects. Another inscription on the same rock (c. fifth century) mentions how one of the rulers of the Gupta dynasty got the lake repaired once again.

Why did rulers make arrangements for irrigation?

Answer 1

Rulers built and repaired artificial reservoirs like the Sudarshana Lake for several critical economic and political reasons:

• Booming Crop Yields: Irrigation secured water for agriculture, ensuring huge crop surpluses even during dry seasons.
• Maximising State Revenue: Higher agricultural output directly increased the land taxes collected by the royal treasury.
• Winning Public Loyalty: Repairing dams using royal funds without imposing extra taxes won the love and support of the subjects.
• Legitimising Absolute Power: Constructing massive public waterworks showcased a ruler’s immense wealth, authority, and governing capability.
• Eternal Historical Fame: Rulers used these massive projects to engrave stone inscriptions that recorded their achievements for future generations.