The earliest textual reference to the region now known as Assam can be found in the Puranas. The Puranas are a vast body of Hindu texts that contain a wide range of information, including mythology, history, philosophy, and cosmology. The Puranas are believed to have been composed over a period of several centuries, and they are considered to be one of the most important sources of Hindu religious and cultural tradition.
The Puranas contain several references to the region of Assam. In the Vishnu Purana, for example, Assam is described as a land of great beauty and fertility. The Puranas also mention the existence of several ancient kingdoms in Assam, including the kingdom of Kamarupa.
The Puranas are an important source of information about the history and culture of Assam. They provide a glimpse into the region’s past and help us to understand its unique identity.
The other options are incorrect because they do not contain references to Assam. The Mahabharata is an ancient Indian epic poem that does not mention Assam. The Arthashastra is an ancient Indian treatise on statecraft that does not mention Assam. The Ramayana is an ancient Indian epic poem that does not mention Assam.