Vedic & Mahajanapadas — Set 5
Indian History · वैदिक और महाजनपद · Questions 41–50 of 60
The majority of hymns in the Rigveda are dedicated to which god?
Correct Answer: A. Indra
• **Indra** = **250 hymns** in Rigveda — most for any deity; god of rain, thunder, war. • **Agni** = 2nd with **200 hymns**; **Soma** = 3rd (9th Mandala fully dedicated to Soma). • Indra is called **'Shakra'**, **'Maghavan'** (bounty-giver), and **'Purandara'** (fort-destroyer). • 💡 Agni = 200 hymns (2nd, not 1st); Soma and Varuna = far fewer hymns — Indra clearly has the most at 250.
According to Max Muller, the Aryans originally came from which region?
Correct Answer: C. Central Asia
• **Max Muller** = proposed **Central Asia** (steppe region) as Aryan homeland — most accepted theory. • **Bal Gangadhar Tilak** proposed Arctic region theory ('The Arctic Home in the Vedas', 1903). • **Sapta Sindhu** (seven rivers region) = proposed as homeland by some Indian scholars (indigenous origin). • 💡 Sapta Sindhu = proposed as homeland by some, not Max Muller; Arctic = Tilak's theory; Tibet = no major scholar's view — Max Muller specifically said Central Asia.
Kaushambi was the capital of which Mahajanapada?
Correct Answer: B. Vatsa
• **Kaushambi** = capital of **Vatsa** Mahajanapada; near modern **Prayagraj (Allahabad)**, UP. • Famous ruler: **King Udayana** — contemporary of Buddha; married Padmavati and Vasavadatta. • Vatsa was one of the 4 most powerful Mahajanapadas along with Magadha, Kosala, Avanti. • 💡 Chedi capital = Shuktimati; Kuru capital = Hastinapura/Indraprastha; Malla capital = Kushinagar — Kaushambi is specifically Vatsa's capital.
Who laid the foundation of the city of Pataliputra?
Correct Answer: B. Udayin
• **Udayin** (son of Ajatshatru) = founder of **Pataliputra** city (~460 BC); shifted capital from Rajgriha. • Pataliputra stood at confluence of **Ganga, Son, and Gandak** rivers — ideal for trade and defense. • Pataliputra remained India's greatest city through Nanda, Maurya, and Gupta eras. • 💡 Bimbisara = founder of Haryanka, not Pataliputra; Ajatshatru = Udayin's father; Ashoka = later Mauryan king — Udayin is the founder of Pataliputra city.
Which was the first metal to be used by the Vedic people?
Correct Answer: B. Copper
• **Copper** = first metal used by Vedic people; referred to as **'Ayas'** in the Rigveda. • Later, iron was called **'Shyama Ayas'** (dark metal) and copper/bronze as **'Lohita Ayas'** (red metal). • Iron became prominent in **Later Vedic period** (~1000 BC) — copper came first in Early Vedic. • 💡 Iron = came later (Later Vedic period); Gold = ornamental use, not first metal; Silver = same — Copper/Ayas was the first worked metal in Vedic times.
The concept of 'Gotra' (clan lineage) first appeared in which period?
Correct Answer: B. Later Vedic Period
• **Gotra** = concept established in **Later Vedic Period**; literally means 'cow pen' → evolved to mean patrilineal clan. • Marriage within same Gotra (**Sagotra vivah**) was prohibited — **exogamy** rule. • There are **8 original Gotras** based on **8 Rishis**: Vishvamitra, Jamadagni, Bharadvaja, Gautama, Atri, Vasishtha, Kashyapa, Agastya. • 💡 Mauryan Period = too late; Rigvedic Period = too early (Gotra not yet formalized); Gupta Period = also too late — Gotra system emerged in Later Vedic Period.
The ancient text 'Jaya Samhita' is the older name of which epic?
Correct Answer: C. Mahabharata
• **Jaya Samhita** = original name of **Mahabharata** with **8,800 verses**; expanded to **1,00,000 verses**. • World's longest epic (**1 lakh slokas**); composed/compiled by **Sage Vyasa**; called 5th Veda. • Intermediate name was **'Bharata'** (24,000 verses) before becoming full Mahabharata. • 💡 Upanishads = philosophical texts; Ramayana = different epic by Valmiki (not called Jaya); Puranas = separate genre — Jaya Samhita is specifically the Mahabharata's original name.
The 'Purusha Sukta', which mentions the fourfold Varna system, is found in:
Correct Answer: C. Rigveda
• **Purusha Sukta** = hymn in **10th Mandala** of Rigveda; first mention of **4-Varna system**. • 4 Varnas from cosmic Purusha: **Brahmin** (mouth) → **Kshatriya** (arms) → **Vaishya** (thighs) → **Shudra** (feet). • Purusha Sukta also mentions **Ashvamedha yajna** and cosmological creation — very significant hymn. • 💡 Samaveda, Atharvaveda, Yajurveda do not contain the Purusha Sukta — it is exclusively from Rigveda (10th Mandala).
Which Buddhist text provides the list of the 16 Mahajanapadas?
Correct Answer: C. Anguttara Nikaya
• **Anguttara Nikaya** = Buddhist Pali text that lists all **16 Mahajanapadas** by name. • **Bhagavati Sutra** (Jain text) has a slightly different list — key distinction in. • Anguttara Nikaya is part of **Sutta Pitaka** (one of the three Tipitaka baskets). • 💡 Dhammapada = ethical sayings (not a political list); Jataka = Buddha's past life stories; Vinaya Pitaka = monastic rules — only Anguttara Nikaya lists the 16 Mahajanapadas.
Mathura was the capital of which Mahajanapada?
Correct Answer: A. Surasena
• **Mathura** = capital of **Surasena** Mahajanapada; located in Braj region, modern Uttar Pradesh. • Associated with **Yadava clan** and **Lord Krishna**; later a major center of Buddhism and Jainism. • Surasena's ruler **Avantiputra** was a disciple of Buddha — mentioned in Buddhist texts. • 💡 Matsya capital = Viratnagar; Kuru capital = Hastinapura/Indraprastha; Panchala capital = Ahichhatra — Mathura is specifically Surasena's capital.