Read the passage and answer the question:

From the early centuries of the Common Era, we find grants of land being made, many of which were recorded in inscriptions. Some of these inscriptions were on stone, but most were on copper plates which were probably given as a record of the transaction to those who received the land. The records that have survived are generally about grants to religious institutions or to Brahmanas. Most inscriptions were in Sanskrit. In some cases, and especially from the seventh century onwards, part of the inscription was in Sanskrit, while the rest was in a local language such as Tamil or Telugu.

What could be the reason that Prabhavati had access to land, unlike the other women of her time?

Both options 1 and 2

The correct answer is Option 3 - Both options 1 and 2

Option 1- She was a queen and her situation was therefore exceptional (Correct)
Option 2- Maybe the provisions of legal texts were not uniformly implemented (Correct)
Option 3- Both options 1 and 2 (Answer)
Option 4- Neither 1 nor 2.

Prabhavati Gupta was the daughter of one of the most important rulers in early Indian history, Chandragupta II (c. 375-415 CE ). She was married into another important ruling family, that of the Vakatakas, who were powerful in the Deccan. According to Sanskrit legal texts, women were not supposed to have independent access to resources such as land. However, the inscription indicates that Prabhavati had access to land, which she then granted. This may have been because she was a queen (one of the few known from early Indian history), and her situation was therefore exceptional. It is also possible that the provisions of legal texts were not uniformly implemented.