Ancient & Classical — Set 4

Correct Answer: C. Bhasa

• **Bhasa** = Bhasa is one of the earliest known Sanskrit playwrights, mentioned with respect by Kalidasa. • **20th century** — His works were rediscovered in the early 20th century in Kerala. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Kalidasa]: Famous for plays like 'Abhijnanasakuntalam' and 'Meghaduta'; [Harsha]: A king who authored plays like 'Nagananda', 'Ratnavali', and 'Priyadarshika'; [Bhavabhuti]: Known for 'Uttararamacharita' and 'Malatimadhava'.

Correct Answer: D. Ashvaghosha

• **Ashvaghosha** = Ashvaghosha authored 'Saundarananda' to combine poetic beauty with Buddhist theological teachings. • **Mahayana Buddhism** — Ashvaghosha was instrumental in the spread of Mahayana Buddhism. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Nagarjuna]: A founder of the Madhyamaka school of Mahayana Buddhism, known for philosophical treatises; [Vasubandhu]: A prominent Buddhist scholar and one of the founders of the Yogachara school; [Dharmakirti]: An influential Buddhist logician and philosopher from the 7th century.

Correct Answer: D. Narayan Pandit

• **Narayan Pandit** = Narayan Pandit compiled 'Hitopadesha', a collection of animal fables similar to Panchatantra. • **14th century** — Narayan Pandit compiled these stories in the 14th century, drawing heavily from the earlier Panchatantra. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Vishnu Sharma]: Traditionally credited as the author of the 'Panchatantra'; [Gunadhya]: A Sanskrit poet, author of 'Brihatkatha' in Paishachi dialect; [Somadeva]: Author of 'Kathasaritsagara', a vast collection of Indian legends and folk tales.

Correct Answer: A. Dandin

• **Dandin** = Dandin, a 7th-century author, wrote 'Dasakumaracharita', which describes the adventures of ten young men. • **7th century** — Dandin was a 7th-century author known for his mastery over prose and literary criticism. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Subandhu]: Author of 'Vasavadatta', a famous Sanskrit prose romance; [Bharavi]: Known for his epic poem 'Kiratarjuniya'; [Magha]: Author of the epic poem 'Shishupala Vadha'.

Correct Answer: D. Ashtadhyayi

• **Ashtadhyayi** = The grammar work 'Kashika Vritti', written by Jayaditya and Vamana, is a joint commentary on Panini's Ashtadhyayi. • **Panini** — Kashika Vritti is a commentary on Panini's Ashtadhyayi, providing a standard reference for Sanskrit grammar. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Mahabhashya]: A commentary on Panini's Ashtadhyayi by Patanjali, which is more extensive than Kashika Vritti; [Nirukta]: An ancient treatise on the etymology of Vedic words, written by Yaska; [Arthashastra]: An ancient Indian treatise on statecraft, economic policy, and military strategy by Kautilya.

Correct Answer: A. Hemachandra

• **Hemachandra** = Hemachandra, a versatile scholar, wrote 'Kumarapala Charita', which serves as a biography of the Solanki king and a demonstration of grammar rules. • **12th century** — Hemachandra was a versatile scholar who lived in Gujarat during the 12th century. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Haribhadra]: A Digambara Jain monk and author, known for works like 'Samaraichchakaha'; [Jinasena]: A Digambara monk and scholar, known for his work 'Adipurana'; [Bhadrabahu]: A Jain ascetic who led the migration of Jains to South India, considered the last Shruta Kevalin.

Correct Answer: A. Yaska

• **Yaska** = Yaska wrote 'Nirukta', an ancient treatise on the etymology of Vedic words, essential for the study of ancient texts. • **Six Vedangas** — Yaska's work is one of the six Vedangas, which are considered limbs of the Vedas. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Pingala]: An ancient Indian mathematician and prosodist, author of the 'Chhandaḥśastra' on Sanskrit prosody; [Saunaka]: An ancient Rishi, associated with various Vedic texts and recensions of the Atharvaveda; [Katyayana]: A Sanskrit grammarian, known for his 'Varttikas' on Panini's Ashtadhyayi.

Correct Answer: D. Bharavi

• **Bharavi** = Bharavi wrote 'Kiratarjuniya', one of the five Sanskrit Mahakavyas, describing the combat between Arjuna and Lord Shiva. • **6th century** — Bharavi wrote this epic in the 6th century, and was a court poet of the Pallava kings. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Kalidasa]: Famous for plays like 'Abhijnanasakuntalam' and epics like 'Raghuvamsha'; [Sriharsha]: A 12th-century poet, known for the epic 'Naishadha Charita'; [Magha]: Author of the epic poem 'Shishupala Vadha'.

Correct Answer: D. Magha

• **Magha** = Magha authored 'Shishupala Vadha', an epic poem based on the Mahabharata, detailing the slaying of King Shishupala by Krishna. • **Linguistic excellence** — The epic is highly valued for its intricate structural patterns and linguistic excellence. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Kalidasa]: Famous for 'Raghuvamsha' and 'Kumarasambhava', not 'Shishupala Vadha'; [Dandin]: Author of 'Dasakumaracharita', a prose romance; [Bharavi]: Author of the epic poem 'Kiratarjuniya'.

Correct Answer: D. Bhavabhuti

• **Bhavabhuti** = Bhavabhuti authored the play 'Uttararamacharita', which tells the later story of Rama and is noted for its emotional intensity. • **8th century** — Bhavabhuti was a major Sanskrit dramatist who lived in the 8th century and served King Yashovarman. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Kalidasa]: Famous for plays like 'Abhijnanasakuntalam' and 'Malavikagnimitram'; [Vishakhadatta]: Author of the political drama 'Mudrarakshasa'; [Bhasa]: An early Sanskrit playwright known for 'Svapnavasavadattam'.