Consider the following events in the history of India : 1. Rise of Pratiharas under King Bhoja 2. Establishment of Pallava power under Mahendravarman - I 3. Establishment of Chola power by Parantaka - I 4. Pala dynasty founded by Gopala What is the correct chronological order of the above events, starting from the earliest time ?

States that Mahendravarman I and Narasimhavarman I made efforts to extend Pallava territory and engaged in wars with the Chalukyas, placing Mahendravarman in the key expansion phase of the dynasty.

A student can use the known reign dates of Narasimhavarman I (given elsewhere in the snippets) to infer that Mahendravarman's active period is immediately before or overlapping Narasimhavarman's expansion (i.e., early 7th century).

Provides Narasimhavarman I's reign years (630–668) and describes him as succeeding in later campaigns — implying earlier Pallava consolidation under his predecessors.

Combine Narasimhavarman's dated reign with the statement that Mahendravarman preceded or contemporaneously set up the Pallava power to place Mahendravarman around the late 6th/early 7th century.

Attributes the introduction of rock-cut temples to Mahendravarman I and cites inscriptions (Mandagappattu), showing he was an active ruler who commissioned monuments — a sign of establishment/consolidation of power.

A student could date such architectural developments relative to Narasimhavarman's known dates to narrow Mahendravarman's period to the generation immediately before mid-7th century.

Mentions that an attack on Kanchipuram was thwarted by Mahendravarman Pallava, triggering prolonged war with the Chalukyas — indicating Mahendravarman was the ruling Pallava when major interstate conflicts began.

Knowing Narasimhavarman I's later victories (630–668) lets a student place Mahendravarman's defensive/establishing actions earlier, consistent with an early 7th-century timeframe.

Explains that the Pallavas emerged as a powerful dynasty in the south as Satavahana power declined and consolidated territory in parts of present-day South India, giving a broader context for when Pallava power rose.

A student can combine this general timeline (post-Satavahana decline) with the specific dated reign of Narasimhavarman I to infer that the consolidation under Mahendravarman likely occurred around the turn of the 7th century.