With reference to ancient India (600-322 BC), consider the following pairs :

Correct Option

Two of the given pairs are correctly matched.

Explanation

• Pair I (Asmaka : Godavari): Asmaka (or Assaka) was one of the sixteen Mahajanapadas, situated in the Deccan region along the Godavari river. This pair is correctly matched.
• Pair IV (Kosala : Sarayu): Kosala, a prominent Mahajanapada in the Awadh region (present-day Uttar Pradesh), was associated with the Sarayu river, which flowed past its capital, Ayodhya. This pair is correctly matched.

Incorrect Options

• Pair II (Kamboja : Vipas): Kamboja was located in the north-western part of the Indian subcontinent, corresponding to parts of modern Afghanistan and northern Pakistan. The Vipas (Beas) river is situated further east and was not a primary river of the Kamboja region. Therefore, this pair is incorrectly matched.
• Pair III (Avanti : Mahanadi): Avanti was a Mahajanapada primarily located in the Malwa region of central India (modern Madhya Pradesh). The Mahanadi river flows predominantly through the states of Chhattisgarh and Odisha in eastern India and is not associated with Avanti. Therefore, this pair is incorrectly matched.