Indian Literature and Texts

The Diamond Sutra (often spelled as Hirake Sutra in some sources) dated 868 AD is the oldest dated printed book in the world, discovered in the Dunhuang caves in China. The Bible, while older in content, was not printed until much later (Gutenberg Bible, 1450s). The Ramayana and Mahabharata are ancient Indian epics that were transmitted orally and in manuscript form long before printing.

Natasya pratima asti is from the Yajurveda specifically Yajurveda 32.3. This verse speaks against idol worship stating that the divine has no physical likeness or image.

The Rigveda contains hymns addressing both divine deities and earthly kings. It establishes the concept of divine order Rta that governs relationships between subjects kings and gods.

The Mahabharata is the longest epic in the world with over 100,000 slokas and about 1.8 million words, far surpassing the Ramayana which is also lengthy but shorter. The Puranas are collections of legends, and the Vedas are hymns - not epics.

The phrase 'Satyameva Jayate' (Truth alone triumphs) is taken from the Mundaka Upanishad, an ancient Hindu philosophical text. It was adopted as India's national motto and appears below the national emblem. The Rigveda is a different Vedic text, while the Ramayana is an epic.

Zend Avesta is the sacred scripture of Zoroastrianism, the ancient Persian religion followed by Parsis. It contains hymns, prayers, and religious teachings attributed to the prophet Zoroaster (Zarathustra). The Torah is Jewish scripture, the Bible is Christian, and the Gita is Hindu.

The concept of pollution emerged clearly in the post-Vedic period (c. 1000-500 BCE) with the development of Dharmashastras and social stratification. While the Rigvedic period had notions of purity, the elaborate system of social pollution (caste-based restrictions, untouchability) crystallized later. The post-Gupta age saw further rigidification, but the concept emerged earlier.

The phrase 'Satyameva Jayate' (Truth Alone Triumphs) is taken from the Mundaka Upanishad. It's part of a verse that appears in Mandala 3, Chapter 1. The phrase was adopted as India's national motto and appears on the state emblem below the Lion Capital of Ashoka.

The Zend Avesta is the primary collection of religious texts of Zoroastrianism, which is the religion followed by Parsis. It contains hymns, prayers, and rituals attributed to the prophet Zoroaster (Zarathustra). The Torah is the Jewish text, the Bible is Christian, and the Gita is Hindu sacred scripture - none of these are Parsi scriptures.

Satyameva Jayate (Truth Alone Triumphs) is from Mundaka Upanishad 3.1.6. It was adopted as India's national motto and appears on the national emblem below the Ashoka Pillar.

Parsis are followers of Zoroastrianism, and their holy book is the Zend Avesta. The Torah is the Jewish holy book, the Bible is Christian scripture, and the Gita is Hindu. Zend Avesta contains the core religious texts of Zoroastrianism practiced by the Parsi community.

The four Vedas are the oldest scriptures of Hinduism, composed between 1500-500 BCE. Rig Veda contains hymns to deities, Yajur Veda has prose mantras for rituals, Sama Veda contains musical chants derived from Rig Veda, and Atharva Veda includes spells and practical daily life incantations. Options B and C incorrectly include Vedangas (auxiliary disciplines like grammar and astronomy), while D replaces Atharva with Dharma which is not a Veda.