Ancient & Classical — Set 2

Correct Answer: C. Panini

• **Panini** = He is the author of the grammar treatise 'Ashtadhyayi', a highly structured work that established the standard rules of Sanskrit grammar. • **4,000 aphorisms** — This work contains nearly this many aphorisms or rules for the formation of words, and is considered a masterpiece of linguistic analysis. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Patanjali: wrote the 'Mahabhashya', a commentary on Panini's 'Ashtadhyayi'; Katyayana: another ancient Sanskrit grammarian, known for his 'varttikas' on Panini's grammar; Vararuchi: a legendary figure, possibly associated with Katyayana's work or a grammarian.

Correct Answer: D. Veda Vyasa

• **Veda Vyasa** = He is traditionally regarded as the compiler of the epic 'Mahabharata', a massive text that includes the Bhagavad Gita and explores complex themes of Dharma. • **Four Vedas** — He is also credited with classifying these ancient sacred texts. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Valmiki: traditionally attributed as the author of the epic 'Ramayana'; Vashistha: a revered Vedic sage and one of the Saptarishis; Vishwamitra: another highly respected sage in ancient Indian mythology.

Correct Answer: A. Harshavardhana

• **Harshavardhana** = He was a king of the Vardhana dynasty, a great patron of learning, and a talented writer himself, authoring the plays 'Ratnavali' and 'Priyadarsika' in Sanskrit. • **Three famous plays** — He authored these two plays, along with 'Nagananda', and his court was famously graced by the scholar Hiuen Tsang. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Chandragupta: refers to either Chandragupta Maurya or Chandragupta I/II of the Gupta dynasty, neither wrote these plays; Pulakeshin II: Chalukya king, a rival of Harshavardhana; Vikramaditya: a title used by several Indian kings, most notably Chandragupta II, who was from the Gupta dynasty.

Correct Answer: D. Ilango Adigal

• **Ilango Adigal** = A prince turned monk, he wrote the Tamil epic 'Silappadikaram', the first among the five great epics of Tamil literature, which revolves around the tragic life of Kannagi and Kovalan. • **Five great epics** — His work is considered the first of these major literary works in Tamil literature, providing a vivid description of the three ancient Tamil kingdoms. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Sattanar: authored 'Manimegalai', another of the five great Tamil epics; Kambar: known for 'Ramavataram', a Tamil version of the Ramayana; Tiruvalluvar: author of 'Tirukkural', a classic Tamil text on ethics and morality.

Correct Answer: C. Vishakhadatta

• **Vishakhadatta** = He is the author of the play 'Mudrarakshasa', a historical drama that describes the rise of Chandragupta Maurya and focuses on the political maneuvers of Chanakya. • **Nanda to Maurya dynasty** — The play highlights the transition from this dynasty to that, and is unique as it does not follow standard romantic themes of Sanskrit theater. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Kalidasa: renowned for romantic plays like 'Abhijnanashakuntalam'; Bhasa: known for plays like 'Swapnavasavadattam'; Shudraka: authored 'Mricchakatika', a social drama.

Correct Answer: A. Jayadeva

• **Jayadeva** = He was a 12th-century poet who composed the 'Geet Govinda', describing the relationship between Krishna and Radha. • **12th century** — His work is an important text in the Bhakti movement and classical Indian music. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Vidyapati: known for his Maithili poetry; Surdas: celebrated for his devotional songs dedicated to Krishna in Braj Bhasha; Mirabai: a renowned Bhakti saint-poetess known for her devotional songs to Krishna.

Correct Answer: C. Brahmagupta

• **Brahmagupta** = He was an ancient Indian mathematician and astronomer who wrote the 'Brahmasphutasiddhanta'. • **7th-century** — This mathematical treatise had a major influence on the development of Islamic and Western mathematics. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Aryabhata: known for his work 'Aryabhatiya'; Varahamihira: known for 'Brihat Samhita' and 'Pancha-Siddhantika'; Mahavira: a Jain mathematician who authored 'Ganita Sara Sangraha'.

Correct Answer: D. Varahamihira

• **Varahamihira** = He was a polymath and astronomer who authored the encyclopedic text 'Brihat Samhita'. • **Ujjain** — He lived in Ujjain and his book covers topics ranging from astronomy and architecture to perfumes and agriculture. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Aryabhata: known for his mathematical and astronomical work 'Aryabhatiya'; Charaka: an ancient Indian physician, author of 'Charaka Samhita'; Sushruta: an ancient Indian surgeon, author of 'Sushruta Samhita'.

Correct Answer: C. Somadeva

• **Somadeva** = He was a Kashmiri poet who compiled 'Kathasaritsagara', a famous collection of Indian legends and fairy tales. • **11th century** — He compiled these stories for the queen of Kashmir, based on a much older work called the 'Brihatkatha'. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Gunadhya: credited with the original 'Brihatkatha', on which 'Kathasaritsagara' is based; Vishnu Sharma: author of 'Panchatantra'; Kshemendra: another Kashmiri poet known for 'Brihatkathamanjari'.

Correct Answer: C. Tiruvalluvar

• **Tiruvalluvar** = He is the celebrated Tamil poet to whom the 'Tirukkural', a classic text on ethics, is attributed. • **1,330** — His work consists of 1,330 short couplets or Kurals, divided into three sections: Virtue, Wealth, and Love. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Ilango Adigal: author of 'Silappadikaram'; Sattanar: author of 'Manimekalai'; Avvaiyar: a group of renowned female Tamil poets who lived at different periods.