Question 86 from UPSC CSE 2023 - Art & Culture

Question

With reference to ancient Indian History, consider the following pairs:
1. Devichandragupta - Bilhana
2. Hammira-Mahakavya - Nayachandra Suri
3. Milinda-panha - Nagarjuna
4. Nitivakyamrita - Somadeva Suri
How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?

IASCODEX · Accepted Answer

Correct Option: B. Only two

Strategy: - Scan paired lists of works and authors, recalling classic sources to identify obvious mismatches.
- Identify "Devichandragupta" incorrectly attributed to Bilhana; it is by Vishakhadatta.
- Confirm "Hammira-Mahakavya" by Nayachandra Suri as a correct match.
- Note "Milinda-panha" incorrectly attributed to Nagarjuna; it records dialogues by Nagasena.
- Confirm "Nitivakyamrita" by Somadeva Suri as a correct match.
- Conclude that only pairs 2 and 4 are correct.

Key Info: This section provides details on the literary works and their correct attributions:

*   **Devichandragupta** -- An ancient Sanskrit drama attributed to Vishakhadatta (known for Mudrarakshasa), not Bilhana. Little of the original play survives, but it focuses on Gupta dynasty intrigues.
*   **Hammira-Mahakavya** -- An epic Sanskrit poem by Nayachandra Suri, composed in the 15th century. It chronicles the life and exploits of Hammiradeva (Hammira) of Ranthambore, a legendary Chauhan ruler.
*   **Milinda-panha** ('Questions of Milinda') -- A Buddhist Pali text recording dialogues between the Indo-Greek king Menander (Milinda) and the Buddhist sage Nagasena, not Nagarjuna. It explores Buddhist philosophy through a series of questions and answers.
*   **Nitivakyamrita** -- A Jain treatise on politics and ethics authored by Somadeva Suri (11th-12th century). It should not be confused with the Kashmiri polymath Somadeva, who wrote the Kathasaritsagara.

These works are significant for understanding ancient Indian political, ethical, and religious literature.

IASCODEX · Answer

Option A: Only one

IASCODEX · Answer

Option C: Only three

IASCODEX · Answer

Option D: All four

With reference to ancient Indian History, consider the following pairs: Devichandragupta - Bilhana Hammira-Mahakavya - Nayachandra Suri Milinda-panha - Nagarjuna Nitivakyamrita - Somadeva Suri How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?

With reference to ancient Indian History, consider the following pairs:

Devichandragupta - Bilhana

Hammira-Mahakavya - Nayachandra Suri

Milinda-panha - Nagarjuna

Nitivakyamrita - Somadeva Suri
How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?