The Badami rock inscription of Pulakesin I is dated in the Saka year 465. If the same were to be dated in Vikrama Samvat, the year would be

1. The question requires converting a date from the Saka era to the Vikrama Samvat era. 2. The Saka Era began in 78 CE (Common Era). Therefore, Saka year 465 corresponds to 78 + 465 = 543 CE. 3. The Vikrama Samvat era began in 57 BCE (Before Common Era). 4. To convert a CE year to Vikrama Samvat, we add 57 (or sometimes 56 or 58 depending on the month, but typically 57 is used for conversion). 5. Therefore, the year 543 CE in Vikrama Samvat would be 543 + 57 = 600 or 601 (depending on the specific month within the Saka year 465 and how the overlap with Vikrama year change is calculated). 6. Given the options, 601 is the appropriate conversion. The Badami rock inscription of Pulakesin I dated Saka 465 thus corresponds to Vikrama Samvat 601.