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?

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.

Answer

Option A: Only one

Answer

Option C: Only three

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?