The correct answer is (4) Rastrakutas of Manyakheta. Arab travelers and chroniclers of the 9th and 10th centuries, most notably Sulaiman al-Tajir and Al-Masudi, held the Rashtrakuta monarchs in exceptionally high regard, frequently referring to the reigning king by the title Balhara (a corruption of the Sanskrit Vallabha-Raja or “Beloved King”). Sulaiman, in his writings dated to 851 AD, ranked the Rashtrakuta Emperor as one of the four greatest sovereigns of the world, placing him in the same elite category as the Caliph of Baghdad, the Emperor of China, and the Emperor of Constantinople (the Byzantine Empire). This immense respect stemmed from the Rashtrakutas’ formidable military strength, their vast territorial extent spanning from the Narmada River to the Kaveri, and their enlightened policy of religious tolerance, which allowed Arab merchants to settle, trade, and even build mosques within their empire.

The Rashtrakutas of Manyakheta (modern Malkhed in Karnataka) were the dominant power in the Deccan from the 8th to the 10th centuries, reaching their zenith under rulers like Amoghavarsha I and Krishna III. Their ability to maintain a stable and prosperous empire while simultaneously engaging in the “Tripartite Struggle” for the control of Kanauj in the north impressed foreign observers. The Arab accounts emphasize that the Rashtrakuta king was the most esteemed among the kings of India, noting that other Indian rulers acknowledged his supremacy by sending ambassadors and paying tribute. This international recognition highlights the global stature of the Rashtrakutas, whose patronage of arts and architecture—best exemplified by the monolithic Kailasa Temple at Ellora—complemented their reputation as one of the most powerful and sophisticated dynasties of the medieval world.

The correct answer is (4) Chalukya. While women held high social status in many ancient Indian kingdoms, the Chalukyas of Kalyani (Western Chalukyas) and to some extent the earlier Chalukyas of Vatapi were unique in the systematic and official involvement of royal women in state administration and provincial governance. In the Chalukyan political system, queens, princesses, and other female relatives of the king were not merely titular figures but were frequently appointed as provincial governors (Dandanayikas), village heads, and administrative overseers. They exercised significant executive, judicial, and financial powers, including the authority to grant lands, manage temple endowments, and preside over local assemblies.

Specific historical examples from inscriptions highlight the prominence of these women. For instance, Akkadevi, the sister of Jayasimha II, was a renowned administrator and military leader who governed several provinces, including Kisukadu, and was even known to have taken part in military sieges. Similarly, Mailalladevi, one of the queens of Somesvara I, governed the important province of Banavasi-12000. Another notable figure, Kumkumadevi, the sister of Vijayaditya, was instrumental in regional administration and the establishment of religious institutions. This level of institutionalized female empowerment was a distinctive feature of the Chalukyan administration in the Deccan, setting it apart from contemporary dynasties like the Kalachuris, Gahadavalas, or Chahamanas, where the role of royal women was generally restricted to the domestic sphere or ceremonial religious patronage rather than direct territorial and political governance.