Answer all questions carefully. Each question has exactly one correct answer.
Words Across the Ages: India's Literary Heritage from the Vedas to the Modern Era•hard•12 questions•~18 min
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Question 01
hard
Consider the following statements about the Vedas:
1. Sama Veda contains 1875 hymns, all of which are original compositions.
2. Yajur Veda has two recensions — Shukla (Vajasaneyi Samhita) and Krishna (Taittiriya Samhita).
3. Atharva Veda focuses on rites and mantras of sacrifices and is called the 'ritual Veda'.
4. Rig Veda is organised in 10 books called Mandalas, each comprising hymns called Suktas.
Which of the above statements are CORRECT?
Question 02
hard
Which of the following pairs — Brahmana text and its associated Veda — is INCORRECTLY matched?
(A) Aitareya Brahmana — Rig Veda
(B) Tandya Mahabrahmana — Sama Veda
(C) Shatpatha Brahmana — Rig Veda
(D) Taittiriya Brahmana — Yajur Veda
Question 03
hard
With reference to the Mahabharata, consider the following statements:
1. The original version of the Mahabharata was called 'Jaya' and contained 8,800 verses.
2. The text was renamed 'Bharata' when it reached 24,000 verses, named after the earliest Vedic tribes.
3. The current form of the Mahabharata has 1,00,000 verses divided into 18 parvas.
4. The Bhagwata Gita advocates the principle of Nishkama Karma — selfless performance of one's duty.
How many of the above statements are CORRECT?
Question 04
hard
Consider the following pairs — Sanskrit playwright and their drama:
1. Vishakhdutta — Mudra Rakshasa (ascent of Chandragupta Maurya to power)
2. Bhasa — Uttara Ramacharitam (later life of Rama)
3. Harshavardhana — Nagananda (unique for invoking Lord Buddha in the Nandi verse)
4. Sudraka — Mricchakatika (love of Brahmin Charudatta with a courtesan)
Which of the above are CORRECTLY matched?
Question 05
medium
Which of the following statements about Buddhist canonical and non-canonical literature is CORRECT?
Question 06
hard
Consider the following statements about Tamil Sangam literature:
1. The word 'Sangam' means fraternity, and these literary assemblies were organised by the Pandya kingdom.
2. The second Sangam was held at Kapatapuram and produced the Tolkappiyam — a textbook on Tamil grammar.
3. There are two schools in Sangam literature: Aham (love) and Puram (social life and valour).
4. Andal was a female Alvar saint who contributed to the classical Sangam corpus (300 BC–300 AD).
Which of the above are CORRECT?
Question 07
medium
Which of the following correctly identifies Allasani Peddana's title and his association with Telugu literary tradition?
Question 08
hard
Consider the following statements about Kannada literature:
1. Kavirajamarga, the first recorded text in Kannada, was written by Nripatunga Amoghavarsha I in the tenth century.
2. Pampa is called the 'father of Kannada' and was attached to the court of Chalukya Arikesari.
3. Andayya's Madana Vijaya (Kabbigara Kava) is celebrated as the first pure Kannada text that contained no Sanskrit words.
4. Honnamma, the first Kannada poetess, composed tripadi (three-lined poems) and is called the 'people's poet'.
Which of the above are CORRECT?
Question 09
hard
With reference to medieval Indo-Persian literature, which of the following is INCORRECTLY matched?
(A) Tuzuk-I-Babari — Autobiography of Babar (written in Turkish)
(B) Humayun-nama — Written by Gulbadan Begum, half-sister of Humayun
(C) Razmnama — Persian translation of the Ramayana ordered by Akbar
(D) Padshahnama — Written by Abdul Hamid Lahori about Shah Jahan
Question 10
hard
Consider the following about Jain canonical literature (Agamas):
1. Jain Agamas were originally compiled by the Gandharas, who were immediate disciples of Mahavira.
2. The present Angas were re-compiled at a Svetambara council held at Vallabhi (Gujarat) in mid-5th century AD.
3. Digambaras accept the authority of the Agamas compiled at Vallabhi.
4. Acharanga Sutra is the oldest Anga among the 12 Angas.
Which of the above are CORRECT?
Question 11
easy
The work 'Vande Mataram', which became India's national song, is an excerpt from which literary work?
Question 12
medium
Consider the following pairs — scientific Sanskrit text and its subject:
1. Charak Samhita — Medicine
2. Sushruta Samhita — Pathology
3. Pancha-Siddhantika (Varamihira) — Astrology
4. Aryabhatiya — Astronomy and Mathematics
Which of the above are CORRECTLY matched?
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