General Awareness · History

Indian Literature and Texts

2,973 Questions

Indian literature features rich ancient texts, epics like the Mahabharata, and philosophical Upanishads. This topic covers seminal works of Indian mythology and Sanskrit tradition. It is a highly scoring area in UPSC, state PSC, and other competitive examinations.

Ancient Indian epicsSacred Hindu textsSanskrit traditionIndian mythologyJain literary texts

Indian Literature and Texts Questions

Multiple choice

Susruta Samhita was an ancient text on

  1. law

  2. medicine

  3. astronomy

  4. economics
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The Susruta Samhita is a foundational ancient Sanskrit text on medicine and surgery, attributed to the physician Sushruta.

Multiple choice

Which Veda Mention about the elements of yoga?

  1. Sthar Veda

  2. Rig Veda

  3. Sam veda

  4. Yajur Veda
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The Rig Veda, the oldest of the four Vedas (c. 1500-1200 BCE), contains the earliest known references to yoga elements and concepts. It mentions 'yuj' and early practices that would later be systematized into classical yoga. The question has grammatical errors and spelling issues in options.

Multiple choice

What are the Vedas?

  1. Buddhist texts about how to live the eightfold path

  2. Hindu scriptures

  3. The highest caste

  4. The epic story of India
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The Vedas are the oldest and most authoritative scriptures of Hinduism, containing hymns, philosophy, and guidance on rituals.

Multiple choice history vital villages, thriving towns construction of history sources of modern history the idea of history

What does Vedas and post-Vedic literature include?

  1. Brahmanas

  2. Upanishads

  3. Ramayana and Mahabharata

  4. All of above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The Vedas and post Vedic literature form an important source of ancient Indian history. It includes Brahmanas, the Upanishads, the epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata, the Jain and Buddhist literature, plays, poems, stone and pillar inscriptions, travelogues of foreign travellers etc.

Multiple choice history south india - shatavahanas, kadambas and gangas satavahana the satavahanas the shatavahanas/gautami puthra shatakarni (230 b.c. to 220 a.d.) the gangas/bahubali gomateshwara (350 a.d. to 1004 a.d.) the kadambas/mayuravarma (325 a.d. to 540 a.d.)

Where was the mention about Satavahanas found for the first time?

  1. Aitareya Brahmana

  2. Matsya Purana

  3. Vayu Purana

  4. Vishnu Purana
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The Aitareya Brahmana is one of the earliest texts that mentions the Andhras, who are associated with the Satavahanas.

Multiple choice history sources of medieval india sources of modern history introduction to medieval india sources of medieval history

In which of the following sources are the stories, songs, dances, plays preserved which were told by ordinary people?

  1. The Jatakas

  2. The Panchatantras

  3. Both A and B

  4. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Ordinary people told stories, composed poems and songs, sang, danced, and performed plays. Some of these are preserved in collection of stories as the Jatakas and the Panchatantras, which were written down around this time.

Multiple choice history the post- mauryan india external invasions and assimilation the kushanas kushans, sakas and hunas

Which of the following ancient treatise was the great Buddhist work consisting of dialogues between the Indo-Greek King Menander and the Buddhist philosopher Nagasena?

  1. Milinda panha

  2. Sutta Patika

  3. Vinayapitaka

  4. Buddhhacharita
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Answer - (A) - Milind Panha was the great Buddhist work consisting of dialogues between Indo-Greek King Menander and the Buddhist philosopher Nagasena. Vinaya Pitaka and Sutta Pitaka are the parts of Tripitakas. Buddhacharita is an epic poem written on the life of Gautam Buddha.