Ancient Literature and Litterateur

Which of the following statements is/are correct ?

1. The Bakshali Manuscript written in the Gatha language (a refined version of old Prakrit) using the Sharada script deals with topics such as fractions, square roots, arithmetic and geometric progressions.

2. In the field of geometry, Aryabhatta described the various properties of a circle giving a very accurate value for pi (π) correct to four decimal places at 3.1416.

3. Sharangadhara Samhita is an important text on political system of ancient India.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

[amp_mcq option1=”1, 2 and 3″ option2=”1 and 3 only” option3=”1 and 2 only” option4=”2 only” correct=”option3″]

Statements 1 and 2 are correct, while statement 3 is incorrect.

The Bakshali Manuscript is a significant ancient Indian text on mathematics. Aryabhata was a pioneering Indian mathematician and astronomer. The Sharangadhara Samhita is a well-known medical text.

Statement 1 is correct: The Bakshali Manuscript is indeed written in Gatha language (a form of Prakrit) using the Sharada script and covers various mathematical topics, including arithmetic, algebra, geometry, fractions, square roots, and series. Statement 2 is correct: Aryabhata, in his work Aryabhatiya, calculated the value of pi (π) and gave an approximation equivalent to 3.1416, which was remarkably accurate for his time. Statement 3 is incorrect: The Sharangadhara Samhita, compiled by Sharangadhara, is a famous Ayurvedic medical text, not a text on the political system of ancient India. Important texts on ancient Indian polity include Kautilya’s Arthashastra.

Which one of the following statements on the issue of ownership according to Smriti literature is not correct ?

[amp_mcq option1=”The paternal estate was to be divided equally amongst sons.” option2=”Women were allowed to retain the gifts they received on the occasion of their marriage.” option3=”The gifts to women on the occasion of their marriage were known as Stridhana.” option4=”Stridhana was not inherited by the children without the permission of the husband.” correct=”option4″]

According to Smriti literature, Stridhana was a woman’s absolute property, comprising gifts received at marriage, from paternal relatives, etc. Women were allowed to retain these gifts (statement B), and these gifts were indeed known as Stridhana (statement C). The paternal estate was primarily inherited by sons and was divided equally among them in many cases (statement A). However, Stridhana was inheritable by the woman’s own heirs upon her death, typically her daughters first, and then her sons, according to specific rules laid down in the Smritis. The husband’s permission was generally not required for the children to inherit their mother’s Stridhana; it devolved upon her death based on the prescribed rules of succession for Stridhana. Therefore, statement D is incorrect.

Stridhana represented a form of economic security and independent property for women in ancient India, recognized by Smriti law. Its inheritance pattern was distinct from that of other forms of property.

The definition and scope of Stridhana, as well as the rules regarding its inheritance, varied slightly among different Smritis (e.g., Manu Smriti, Yajnavalkya Smriti, Narada Smriti) and commentators (like Jimutavahana or Vijnaneshwara), but the core concept of it being a woman’s separate, inheritable property was consistent. The husband had limited rights over Stridhana during her lifetime, primarily in times of distress, but this did not extend to controlling its inheritance by her children.

Which among the following are Charvaka Schools of Philosophy ?

1. Dhurtta
2. Nyaya
3. Sushikshita
4. Vaisheshika

[amp_mcq option1=”1, 2 and 3″ option2=”2 and 3 only” option3=”2 and 4 only” option4=”1 and 3 only” correct=”option4″]

The correct answer is D) 1 and 3 only.

Charvaka, also known as Lokayata, is an ancient Indian materialistic and atheistic philosophical school. Traditional texts that describe different schools of Indian philosophy often mention different branches or interpretations within Charvaka. Sources like Madhavacharya’s *Sarvadarshanasangraha* classify Charvakas into types such as Dhurtta (literally ‘rogue’ or ‘cunning’, representing a more radical, sensualist view) and Sushikshita (meaning ‘well-educated’ or ‘refined’, possibly a more moderate view). Nyaya and Vaisheshika are distinct, orthodox (Astika) schools of Indian philosophy focused on logic and atomism, respectively, entirely separate from Charvaka.

Charvaka philosophy rejects concepts like reincarnation, karma, liberation (moksha), and the authority of the Vedas. It emphasizes empirical perception as the only valid source of knowledge and advocates for living life fully while pursuing pleasure. The distinction between different Charvaka “schools” like Dhurtta and Sushikshita might reflect variations in their ethical views or the degree of emphasis on sensual pleasure versus more refined forms of enjoyment.

Which one of the following is not the work of Ashvaghosa?

[amp_mcq option1=”Sariputraptakarana” option2=”Buddhacharita” option3=”Saundarananda” option4=”Manjushrimulakalpa” correct=”option4″]

Manjushrimulakalpa is not a work attributed to Ashvaghosa.

– Ashvaghosa was a renowned Buddhist philosopher, poet, and dramatist, considered one of the greatest Sanskrit poets.
– His known major works include Buddhacharita (an epic poem on the life of the Buddha), Saundarananda (an epic poem about the conversion of Nanda, the Buddha’s half-brother), and Sariputraprakarana (a drama about the conversion of Sariputra and Maudgalyayana).
– Manjushrimulakalpa is a Mahayana Buddhist text, classified as a Tantra, whose authorship is uncertain but it is not attributed to Ashvaghosa.

– Ashvaghosa lived around the 1st-2nd century CE, likely in the time of Kanishka.
– His works are significant for their literary merit and their role in spreading Buddhist philosophy through Sanskrit literature.