The correct answer is (a) Atharva Veda.
The word “gotra” is derived from the Sanskrit word “go”, meaning “cow”. It is a term used to denote a group of people who claim descent from a common ancestor. The word “gotra” first occurs in the Atharva Veda, one of the four Vedas, the sacred texts of Hinduism.
The Atharva Veda is a collection of hymns, spells, and incantations. It is the last of the four Vedas to be compiled, and it is believed to have been composed between 1200 and 1000 BCE. The Atharva Veda is divided into 20 books, and it contains a wide variety of material, including hymns to the gods, spells for healing and protection, and incantations for love and prosperity.
The word “gotra” occurs several times in the Atharva Veda. In one hymn, the sage Vasistha describes the different gotras and their origins. He says that the gotras are descended from the seven sages, or rishis, who were the first to create the world.
The gotras are an important part of Hindu society. They are used to determine a person’s social status, and they are also used to trace a person’s lineage. The gotras are passed down from father to son, and they are considered to be a very important part of a person’s identity.
The other options are incorrect because they are not the Vedas in which the word “gotra” first occurs. The Rig Veda is the oldest of the four Vedas, and it is believed to have been composed between 1500 and 1200 BCE. The Sama Veda is a collection of hymns that are similar to those found in the Rig Veda, but they are arranged in a different order. The Yajur Veda is a collection of sacrificial formulas, and it is believed to have been composed between 1200 and 1000 BCE.