Which one of the following animals does not come under the category of four noble animals (Maha-Ajneyas Pasu) carved on the round drum (Anda-Palaka) of the lion capital at Sarnath?

The Lion Capital of Ashoka at Sarnath, dating back to the 3rd century BCE, features a round drum known as the abacus or 'Anda-Palaka'. This drum is decorated with high-relief sculptures of four animals separated by the Dharmachakra (Wheel of Dharma). According to historical records and artistic evidence, these four animals are the elephant, the bull, the horse, and the lion [1]. These animals are often referred to as the 'Maha-Ajneyas Pasu' or noble animals, representing the four directions or stages in the life of the Buddha. While the capital was erected at Sarnath where the Buddha gave his first sermon to five disciples (often symbolized by deer), the deer itself is not carved on the circular abacus of the Lion Capital [1]. Therefore, the deer is the animal that does not belong to this specific group of four carved on the drum.

Sources

1. [1] Exploring Society:India and Beyond ,Social Science-Class VII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 5: The Rise of Empires > LET'S EXPLORE > p. 109