Religious & Epics — Set 3
Books & Authors · धार्मिक और महाकाव्य · Questions 21–30 of 50
Who is the author of 'Buddhacharita', an epic biography of the Buddha in Sanskrit?
Correct Answer: A. Ashvaghosha
• **Ashvaghosha** = Ashvaghosha was a court poet of King Kanishka who wrote 'Buddhacharita', an epic biography of the Buddha. • He was a court poet of King **Kanishka**. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Vasumitra: A Buddhist scholar, known for presiding over the Fourth Buddhist Council; Nagarjuna: A prominent philosopher of Mahayana Buddhism; Buddhaghosa: A renowned 5th-century Theravada Buddhist commentator.
The 'Nyaya Sutras', the foundational text for the Indian school of logic, were authored by?
Correct Answer: D. Gautama
• **Gautama** = Sage Gautama, also known as Akshapada, authored the 'Nyaya Sutras', the foundational text for the Indian school of logic. • The text identifies **four valid sources** of knowledge: perception, inference, comparison, and testimony. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Kanada: Associated with the Vaisheshika school of philosophy, not Nyaya; Badarayana: Attributed with the Brahma Sutras, foundational to Vedanta; Jaimini: Known for the Mimamsa school of philosophy.
Which of the following is a prominent work of the Bhakti saint Meerabai?
Correct Answer: C. Padavali
• **Padavali** = Meerabai composed thousands of devotional poems known as Padas, which were later collected in Padavalis. • She composed **thousands** of devotional poems. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Sursagar: A prominent work by the Bhakti poet Surdas; Bijak: The most popular collection of the teachings and poems of Kabir; Ram-Ratan Dhan: While a theme in Bhakti, it is not a specific work name by Meerabai as widely as Padavali.
The 'Agamas' are a collection of scriptures that form the basis for which religious tradition?
Correct Answer: A. Jainism
• **Jainism** = The Jaina Agamas are a collection of scriptures that contain the teachings of the Tirthankaras. • They contain the teachings of the **Tirthankaras**. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Sikhism: Its primary scripture is the Guru Granth Sahib; Buddhism: Its primary scripture is the Tripitaka (Pali Canon); Zoroastrianism: Its central sacred text is the Avesta.
Which Veda contains the instructions for the technical performance of sacrificial rituals?
Correct Answer: D. Yajur Veda
• **Yajur Veda** = The Yajur Veda contains instructions for the technical performance of sacrificial rituals. • It is divided into **two main branches**: the Krishna (Black) and the Shukla (White) Yajur Veda. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Rig Veda: Contains hymns of praise, not ritual instructions; Atharva Veda: Focuses on charms, spells, and medical knowledge; Sama Veda: Deals with melodies and chants for rituals.
The 'Bijak' is the most popular collection of the teachings and poems of which saint?
Correct Answer: D. Kabir
• **Kabir** = 'Bijak' is the most popular collection of the teachings and poems of saint Kabir. • It consists of diverse poetic forms like **Sakhis and Ramainis**. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Ravidas: His works are primarily included in the Guru Granth Sahib and known as Banis; Tukaram: A prominent Marathi Bhakti saint known for his Abhangas; Namdev: A Marathi Bhakti saint whose poems are also found in the Guru Granth Sahib.
The ancient text 'Manusmriti' is primarily a treatise on which subject?
Correct Answer: D. Law and Social Conduct
• **Law and Social Conduct** = The 'Manusmriti' is the most influential Dharma Shastra text of ancient India. • It served as a significant reference for traditional Hindu law for **centuries**. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Poetics: Texts like 'Natyashastra' or 'Kavyalankara' deal with poetics; Medicine: 'Charaka Samhita' and 'Sushruta Samhita' are ancient medical texts; Mathematics: Ancient Indian mathematics is found in texts like 'Surya Siddhanta' and works of Aryabhata.
Which Mughal prince translated fifty Upanishads into Persian under the title 'Sirr-e-Akbar'?
Correct Answer: A. Dara Shikoh
• **Dara Shikoh** = Dara Shikoh translated fifty Upanishads into Persian under the title 'Sirr-e-Akbar'. • He translated **fifty Upanishads** into Persian. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Murad Bakhsh: A younger brother of Dara Shikoh, not known for translating Upanishads; Aurangzeb: Another brother, who was a devout Sunni and opposed Dara Shikoh's syncretic views; Shah Shuja: The second son of Shah Jahan, known for his political ambitions, not scholarly translations.
The 'Manimekalai', a sequel to Silappadikaram, promotes which religious philosophy?
Correct Answer: C. Buddhism
• **Buddhism** = The 'Manimekalai', a sequel to Silappadikaram, promotes Buddhist logic and ethical teachings. • It narrates the spiritual journey of the daughter of **Kovalan and Madhavi**. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Shaivism: A branch of Hinduism centered on the worship of Shiva; Vaishnavism: A branch of Hinduism centered on the worship of Vishnu; Jainism: While prominent in ancient Tamil Nadu, Manimekalai explicitly promotes Buddhist philosophy.
The 'Brahma Sutras', which systematize the teachings of the Upanishads, are attributed to?
Correct Answer: D. Badarayana
• **Badarayana** = Badarayana is credited with composing the 'Brahma Sutras', which systematize the teachings of the Upanishads. • All **major schools** of Vedanta have written commentaries on this specific text. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Shankara: A prominent commentator on the Brahma Sutras, but not its author; Madhva: A proponent of Dvaita Vedanta and a commentator on the Brahma Sutras; Ramanuja: A proponent of Vishishtadvaita Vedanta and a commentator on the Brahma Sutras.