Religious & Epics — Set 4

Correct Answer: D. Rig Veda

• **Rig Veda** = It is the oldest known religious book written in the Sanskrit language. • **1,028 hymns** — The Rig Veda is a collection of this many hymns, forming the foundational layer of Vedic literature. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Sama Veda]: It is a collection of hymns from the Rig Veda set to music for chanting; [Yajur Veda]: It contains prose mantras for worship rituals; [Ramayana]: It is an epic poem, not primarily a religious hymn collection like the Vedas.

Correct Answer: A. Vishnu Sharma

• **Vishnu Sharma** = He is the author of the world-famous fable collection 'Panchatantra'. • **Most translated** — The Panchatantra is one of the most translated non-religious books in world literature, reflecting its global influence. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Kautilya]: Also known as Chanakya, he wrote 'Arthashastra'; [Bana]: He was a court poet who wrote 'Harshacharita' and 'Kadambari'; [Sudraka]: He was a playwright known for 'Mrichchhakatika'.

Correct Answer: D. Chanakya

• **Chanakya** = He is the famous scholar who wrote the 'Arthashastra', a comprehensive treatise on statecraft. • **Fifteen books** — The 'Arthashastra' is divided into this many 'Adhikaranas', covering various aspects of administration and strategy. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Megasthenes]: He was a Greek ambassador who wrote 'Indica' about Mauryan India; [Ashoka]: He was a Mauryan emperor, not the author of 'Arthashastra'; [Chandragupta]: He was the founder of the Mauryan Empire, advised by Chanakya, but not the author.

Correct Answer: B. Ramayana

• **Ramayana** = This epic is famously known as the 'Adi Kavya' (the first epic poem) in Sanskrit literature. • **24,000 shlokas** — The Ramayana consists of this many verses, organized across seven sections or 'Kands'. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Mahabharata]: It is another major Sanskrit epic, but not referred to as the 'Adi Kavya'; [Raghuwamsha]: It is a famous Sanskrit epic poem by Kalidasa; [Silappadikaram]: It is one of the five great epics of Tamil literature.

Correct Answer: B. Pali

• **Pali** = This was the language in which the original teachings of the Buddha (Tripitaka) were recorded. • **Liturgical language** — Pali remains the liturgical language for many Buddhist schools today, preserving the ancient texts. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Sanskrit]: It was a classical language of scholars, not the common language for early Buddhist teachings; [Hindi]: It is a modern Indian language, developed much later; [Prakrit]: A group of Middle Indo-Aryan vernacular languages, some Buddhist texts were written in certain Prakrits, but Pali is specifically associated with the Tripitaka.

Correct Answer: B. Ved Vyasa

• **Ved Vyasa** = He is traditionally credited with the compilation of the 'Puranas', explaining Vedic truths through stories. • **Eighteen Mahapuranas** — Ved Vyasa is believed to have compiled this many principal Puranas. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Valmiki]: He is the author of the 'Ramayana'; [Vishnu Sharma]: He wrote the 'Panchatantra'; [Tulsidas]: He wrote the 'Ramcharitmanas'.

Correct Answer: C. Guru Gobind Singh

• **Guru Gobind Singh** = He finalized the 'Guru Granth Sahib' and declared it the perpetual Guru of the Sikhs. • **1708** — In this year, Guru Gobind Singh declared the Granth Sahib as the perpetual Guru, making it the highest spiritual authority. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Guru Nanak Dev]: He was the founder of Sikhism and composed many hymns; [Guru Arjan Dev]: He compiled the first version of the holy scripture, the 'Adi Granth'; [Guru Tegh Bahadur]: His hymns were added to the Adi Granth by Guru Gobind Singh, but he did not finalize it.

Correct Answer: A. Charaka Samhita

• **Charaka Samhita** = It is a foundational text of Indian medicine (Ayurveda), focusing on internal medicine. • **Three foundational works** — The Charaka Samhita is considered one of these, alongside Sushruta Samhita and Ashtanga Hrudayam, for Ayurveda. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Arthashastra]: It is a treatise on statecraft and economics by Chanakya; [Natyashastra]: It is a treatise on performing arts, including drama, dance, and music; [Surya Siddhanta]: It is a Sanskrit treatise on Indian astronomy.

Correct Answer: B. Tulsidas

• **Tulsidas** = He was the poet who wrote the 'Ramcharitmanas' to spread devotion to Lord Rama. • **16th century** — The 'Ramcharitmanas' was written by Tulsidas during this century. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Surdas]: He was a blind poet known for his devotional songs dedicated to Krishna; [Kabirdas]: He was a mystic poet and saint whose writings influenced the Bhakti movement; [Raidas]: He was a North Indian mystic poet-saint of the Bhakti movement.

Correct Answer: B. Rabindranath Tagore

• **Rabindranath Tagore** = He won the Nobel Prize in Literature for his collection of poems, 'Gitanjali'. • **1913** — Tagore received the Nobel Prize in Literature in this year, becoming the first non-European laureate. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Bankim Chandra]: He was a novelist and poet, composer of 'Vande Mataram', but did not win a Nobel Prize; [Sarojini Naidu]: She was a poet and political activist, known as 'The Nightingale of India'; [C.V. Raman]: He won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930 for his work on light scattering.