Ancient Literature and Litterateur Archives

41. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the code

Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the code given below the Lists :

	List I (Literary Work)		List II (Author)
A.	Duta Ghatotkacha	1.	Bhatti
B.	Mrichchhakatikam	2.	Bhasa
C.	Kiratarjuniyam	3.	Shudraka
D.	Ravanavadha	4.	Bharavi

Code :

1 3 4 2

1 4 3 2

2 3 4 1

2 4 3 1

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CDS-2 – 2022

Download PDF Attempt Online

Matching the literary works with their authors:
– Duta Ghatotkacha is a play by Bhasa. (A-2)
– Mrichchhakatikam (The Little Clay Cart) is a famous Sanskrit drama attributed to Shudraka. (B-3)
– Kiratarjuniyam is a classical Sanskrit epic poem by Bharavi. (C-4)
– Ravanavadha, also known as Bhattikavya, is an epic poem by Bhatti. (D-1)

– Bhasa was one of the earliest and most celebrated Sanskrit dramatists.
– Shudraka is known for his complex and realistic portrayal of urban life in Mrichchhakatikam.
– Bharavi is noted for his intricate language and philosophical depth in Kiratarjuniyam.
– Bhatti’s Ravanavadha is significant for illustrating the rules of Sanskrit grammar (Panini’s Ashtadhyayi) and poetics through the story of Rama.

These authors and their works are significant contributions to classical Sanskrit literature. The matching pairs (A-2, B-3, C-4, D-1) correspond to option C.

42. To which one of the following schools of philosophy did Kumarila Bhatt

To which one of the following schools of philosophy did Kumarila Bhatta and Prabhakara belong?

Lokayata

Madhyamika

Purva-Mimamsa

Uttara-Mimamsa

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CDS-2 – 2022

Download PDF Attempt Online

Kumarila Bhatta and Prabhakara were two prominent philosophers of the Purva-Mimamsa school of Indian philosophy. They developed differing interpretations within the Mimamsa tradition.

Purva-Mimamsa is one of the six orthodox (astika) schools of Hindu philosophy, primarily concerned with the interpretation of the Vedas, particularly the ritualistic sections (Karma Kanda).

Lokayata is a heterodox (nastika) materialistic school. Madhyamika is a school of Mahayana Buddhism founded by Nagarjuna. Uttara-Mimamsa is another name for the Vedanta school, which focuses on the philosophical sections of the Vedas (Jnana Kanda), particularly the Upanishads.

43. Consider the following statements about Patanjali’s Mahabhashya :

Consider the following statements about Patanjali’s Mahabhashya :

It makes a mention of Kautilya.
It is a book on grammar and refers to historical personalities only incidentally.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

1 only

2 only

Both 1 and 2

Neither 1 nor 2

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CDS-2 – 2021

Download PDF Attempt Online

Both statements are correct. Patanjali’s *Mahabhashya* is a detailed commentary on Panini’s *Ashtadhyayi*, making it a foundational text on Sanskrit grammar. While its primary focus is linguistic, it contains numerous references to historical events, personalities, and societal conditions of the time (c. 2nd century BCE), making it a valuable source for historical information, though this is incidental to its main purpose. It does mention Kautilya, the author of *Arthashastra*.

The *Mahabhashya* is a commentary on grammar but serves as an incidental source for historical information. It mentions Kautilya and provides insights into the socio-political life of the Shunga period.

Patanjali is generally placed in the 2nd century BCE, during the Shunga dynasty. The *Mahabhashya* is a key text in the Indian grammatical tradition. The mention of Kautilya in the *Mahabhashya* is often cited as evidence for the pre-Patanjali date of *Arthashastra*.

44. According to the Manusmriti, women can acquire wealth through which of

According to the Manusmriti, women can acquire wealth through which of the following means?

Purchase

Investment

Token of affection

Inheritance

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CDS-2 – 2018

Download PDF Attempt Online

According to Manusmriti, women could acquire wealth through various means described as ‘Stridhana’. These means included gifts received from relatives (father, mother, brother, husband) at different stages like marriage, bridal procession, or given out of affection. The option “Token of affection” aligns with one of the ways Stridhana could be acquired, specifically gifts from the husband or other relatives.

Stridhana was the property over which a woman had absolute right. Manusmriti lists specific categories of gifts received by a woman which constitute her Stridhana.

While acquisition through purchase or inheritance (especially of immovable property) might have been possible under certain circumstances or later interpretations, the text explicitly lists gifts received as ‘tokens of affection’ or from specific relatives as key components of Stridhana.

45. Rakshasa type of marriage is

Rakshasa type of marriage is

marriage by purchase

marriage by capture

marriage by giving dowry

marriage by seduction

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CDS-2 – 2016

Download PDF Attempt Online

Rakshasa type of marriage is marriage by capture.

Ancient Hindu texts like the Manusmriti describe eight types of marriage. These are Brahma, Daiva, Arsha, Prajapatya (considered approved forms), and Gandharva, Asura, Rakshasa, Paishacha (considered unapproved or inferior forms). Rakshasa marriage is defined as the forcible abduction of a maiden from her home after slaying or wounding her relatives.

The eight types of marriage represent different ways alliances were formed, reflecting varying social customs and degrees of acceptability based on consent, intent, and method.

46. Which one of the following statements about the famous text of *Pancha

Which one of the following statements about the famous text of *Panchatantra* is correct?

It is a philosophical text reflecting the debates of the time and refuting rival positions.

It is a text ushering in linguistics as a formal science.

It is a text discussing developments in various spheres of natural sciences.

It is a text showing through illustration what should and should not be done.

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CDS-1 – 2020

Download PDF Attempt Online

Panchatantra is a text showing through illustration what should and should not be done.

The Panchatantra is a collection of ancient Indian fables, primarily animal fables, intended to instruct young princes on statecraft and good governance (niti). The stories illustrate moral principles and practical wisdom by showing the consequences of various actions, effectively demonstrating what is advisable (“should be done”) and what is not (“should not be done”) in different situations.

Attributed to Vishnu Sharma, the Panchatantra is considered a nitishastra (text on political science or conduct). It uses simple stories and animal characters to convey complex ideas about human behavior, relationships, and strategy, making it accessible and memorable. It is not a philosophical text debating rival positions (A), a linguistics text (B), or a text on natural sciences (C).

47. The Lilavati of Bhaskara is a standard text on:

The Lilavati of Bhaskara is a standard text on:

Mathematics

Surgery

Poetics

Linguistics

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CDS-1 – 2016

Download PDF Attempt Online

The correct option is A) Mathematics.

Lilavati is a seminal work on mathematics authored by the 12th-century Indian mathematician Bhaskara II (also known as Bhaskaracharya).

Lilavati covers various topics in arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and mensuration. It is the first volume of Bhaskara II’s main work, the Siddhanta Shiromani, and is written in the form of verses addressed to a princess named Lilavati.