Who among the following rulers advised his subjects through this inscription?

“Whosoever praises his religious sect or blames other sects out of excessive devotion to his own sect, with the view of glorifying his own sect, he rather injures his own sect very severely.”

The correct option is Ashoka.

Step-by-step Explanation:

1. Context of the Inscription:
The quote in the question is a direct translation from Major Rock Edict XII of the Mauryan Emperor Ashoka. Ashoka, who ruled from approximately 268 to 232 BCE, promoted a policy of 'Dhamma' (righteousness/moral law) throughout his empire. His edicts, inscribed on rocks and stone pillars, were meant to guide and advise his subjects on ethical living and social harmony.

2. Theme of Religious Tolerance:
Major Rock Edict XII is specifically dedicated to religious tolerance, mutual respect, and honoring all sects (both one's own and those of others). Ashoka emphasizes that by criticizing another person's sect out of excessive devotion to one's own, a person does not glorify their own religion; instead, they cause severe damage to it.

3. Analysis of Other Options:
- Samudragupta: A famous ruler of the Gupta Dynasty known for his military conquests (often referred to as the 'Napoleon of India') and patronizing Brahmanism.
- Harshavardhana: A 7th-century ruler of the Pushyabhuti dynasty who patronized Buddhism and hosted major assemblies at Kannauj and Prayagraj, but this specific rock edict structure predates him by centuries.
- Krishnadeva Raya: A prominent emperor of the Vijayanagara Empire (ruling in the 16th century CE), known for his patronization of literature and construction of temples in South India, long after the era of rock edicts.

Therefore, the advice to avoid blind sectarianism and to practice religious tolerance belongs to Emperor Ashoka.