Ancient Books — Set 6

Correct Answer: D. Rhinoplasty (Nose surgery)

• **Rhinoplasty (Nose surgery)** = The medical treatise Sushruta Samhita is famous for describing detailed instructions for repairing damaged noses, a procedure now known as rhinoplasty. • His techniques remained the standard for centuries and influenced modern reconstructive surgery — the text mentions over **1,000** diseases and **650** drugs. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: 'Acupuncture': Primarily associated with traditional Chinese medicine; 'Vaccination': Developed much later in Western medicine (Edward Jenner); 'Microscopes': Scientific instruments developed much later, not described in ancient Indian texts.

Correct Answer: D. Patanjali

• **Patanjali** = Patanjali wrote the 'Mahabhashya', a classic commentary on Panini's grammar, to explain and refine its rules. • It is considered one of the **three** foundational works of Sanskrit grammar (Trimuni Vyakarana) — the work also provides incidental information about the social and religious life of its time. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: 'Vamana': A later Sanskrit grammarian and rhetorician; 'Katyayana': An ancient Sanskrit grammarian who preceded Patanjali and wrote Varttikas on Panini's sutras; 'Bhartrihari': A 5th-century Sanskrit grammarian and philosopher known for 'Vakyapadiya'.

Correct Answer: B. Paishachi Prakrit

• **Paishachi Prakrit** = The 'Brihat-Katha', often cited in other Sanskrit works but now lost, was written by Gunadhya in the obscure Paishachi Prakrit language. • Gunadhya wrote it around the **1st or 2nd century** — although the original is lost, its stories were preserved in later Sanskrit adaptations like the Kathasaritsagara. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: 'Pali': Language of Buddhist scriptures; 'Tamil': A Dravidian language, not related to this North Indian tradition; 'Sanskrit': While adaptations exist in Sanskrit, the original Brihat-Katha was not in Sanskrit.

Correct Answer: C. Astronomy

• **Astronomy** = The Surya Siddhanta is an ancient Indian text that is a seminal work on Indian astronomy, providing methods for calculating the positions of planets and eclipses. • It accurately estimated the duration of the sidereal year and the diameter of the Earth — it forms the basis for traditional Indian calendars (**Panchangs**). • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: 'Geography': Not its primary focus; while it touches upon Earth, it's in an astronomical context; 'Solar Energy': A modern concept, not the subject of ancient texts; 'Medicine': Texts like Sushruta Samhita or Charaka Samhita are on medicine.

Correct Answer: C. Bilhana

• **Bilhana** = Bilhana, a Kashmiri poet, wrote the Sanskrit biography of King Vikramaditya VI titled 'Vikramankadevacharita' in honor of his patron. • It is an important source for the history of the Western Chalukyas — Bilhana is also famous for his romantic poem '**Chaurapanchashika**'. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: 'Kalhana': Author of 'Rajatarangini', a chronicle of Kashmir kings; 'Somadeva': Author of 'Kathasaritsagara', a collection of stories; 'Jayanaka': Author of 'Prithvirajavijaya', a biography of Prithviraj Chauhan.

Correct Answer: D. Thesaurus/Dictionary

• **Thesaurus/Dictionary** = The Amarakosha, compiled by Amarasimha, is the oldest surviving and most influential thesaurus or dictionary in the Sanskrit language. • It provides synonyms and gender for words, organized in **three** 'Kandas' (sections) — it was used for centuries as the primary tool for students to master the language. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: 'Law code': Texts like Dharmasutras or Manusmriti are law codes; 'Play': Sanskrit plays are by authors like Kalidasa or Bhasa; 'Medical text': Texts like Charaka Samhita or Sushruta Samhita are medical texts.

Correct Answer: C. Dandin

• **Dandin** = Dandin wrote 'Kavyadarsha', an important work on Sanskrit poetics that defines the qualities of poetry and figures of speech. • He categorized the styles of poetry into the **Vaidarbha** and **Gauda** traditions — this work established the criteria for literary excellence in the classical age. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: 'Vamana': A later rhetorician, author of 'Kavyalankarasutravritti'; 'Mammata': A 11th-century rhetorician, author of 'Kavyaprakasha'; 'Bhamaha': An earlier rhetorician, author of 'Kavyalankara'.

Correct Answer: B. Chand Bardai

• **Chand Bardai** = Chand Bardai, the court poet and friend of Prithviraj Chauhan, authored the 'Prithviraj Raso', an epic about the king. • He wrote this **Brajbhasha** epic, which provides a heroic account of the King's life and his battles with Muhammad Ghori — it is one of the earliest major works of Hindi literature. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: 'Jayanaka': Author of 'Prithvirajavijaya', an earlier Sanskrit epic on Prithviraj; 'Padmanabha': Author of 'Kanhadade Prabandha'; 'Narpati Nalh': Author of 'Visaldev Raso'.

Correct Answer: B. Agastya

• **Agastya** = Sage Agastya is traditionally credited with 'Navaratna', a work on the science of gems and minerals, including their classification. • The text describes the mythical origin and medicinal properties of **nine** primary gems (Navaratna) — it reflects the deep-rooted cultural and scientific interest in minerals. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: 'Narayan Pandit': Author of 'Hitopadesha', a collection of fables; 'Kautilya': Author of 'Arthashastra', a treatise on statecraft; 'Varahamihira': An astronomer and astrologer, author of 'Brihat Samhita', which also mentions gems but Agastya is specifically credited with 'Navaratna'.

Correct Answer: A. Vashistha and Rama

• **Vashistha and Rama** = The Yogavashistha is a highly philosophical text written in the form of a dialogue between the sage Vashistha and a young Prince Rama. • It is one of the **longest** texts in Sanskrit and is highly regarded in Advaita Vedanta — it uses numerous stories and allegories to explain abstract philosophical concepts. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: 'Krishna and Arjuna': Dialogue in Bhagavad Gita; 'Shiva and Parvati': Common in many Puranic and Tantric texts; 'Yajnavalkya and Maitreyi': Dialogue in Brihadaranyaka Upanishad.