Q90. Silappadikaram and Manimekalai were composed in which language?
[RRB Group D, 2018]
A. Sanskrit
B. Tamil
C. Pali
D. Prakrit
Answer: B. Tamil
Explanation: Both are major Tamil epics. Silappadikaram is traditionally attributed to Ilango Adigal, while the Buddhist Manimekalai is attributed to Sattanar.
Q89. Who wrote the Sanskrit political drama Mudrarakshasa?
[RRB Group D, 2018]
A. Vishakhadatta
B. Shudraka
C. Kalidasa
D. Bhasa
Answer: A. Vishakhadatta
Explanation: Mudrarakshasa depicts Chanakya’s political manoeuvres to secure Chandragupta Maurya’s rule and win over Rakshasa, minister of the former Nanda regime.
Q88. The Panchatantra is traditionally attributed to:
[RRB Group D, 2018]
A. Vishnu Sharma
B. Somadeva
C. Bana
D. Dandin
Answer: A. Vishnu Sharma
Explanation: The interconnected fables of the Panchatantra were intended to teach niti—practical wisdom, diplomacy and political conduct—through entertaining animal narratives.
Q87. The Natyashastra was traditionally written by:
[RRB Group D, 2018]
A. Bharata Muni
B. Kalidasa
C. Patanjali
D. Panini
Answer: A. Bharata Muni
Explanation: The Natyashastra systematically discusses theatre, acting, dance, music, stage design and aesthetic experience and became foundational to Indian performing arts.
Q86. Which work was composed by Kalhana?
[RRB Group D, 2018]
A. Rajatarangini
B. Harshacharita
C. Kadambari
D. Kiratarjuniya
Answer: A. Rajatarangini
Explanation: Kalhana’s Rajatarangini, ‘River of Kings’, presents Kashmir’s dynastic history in eight books and exhibits an unusually historical outlook for its literary genre.
Q85. Who wrote the biography Harshacharita?
[RRB Group D, 2018]
A. Banabhatta
B. Kalhana
C. Dandin
D. Bharavi
Answer: A. Banabhatta
Explanation: Banabhatta’s ornate Sanskrit biography remains a major literary source for Harsha’s family, political circumstances, court culture and seventh-century social life.
Q84. Information about Harshavardhana’s administration is obtained from which literary work by Banabhatta?
[RRB Group D, 2018]
A. Harshacharita
B. Kadambari
C. Rajatarangini
D. Nitisara
Answer: A. Harshacharita
Explanation: Although highly literary and eulogistic, Harshacharita provides valuable evidence on political institutions, settlements, elite culture and social conditions under Harsha.
Q83. The famous lexicon Amarakosha was composed in which language?
[RRB Group D, 2018]
A. Sanskrit
B. Prakrit
C. Tamil
D. Pali
Answer: A. Sanskrit
Explanation: Amarakosha, traditionally attributed to Amarasimha, is an influential Sanskrit thesaurus arranged in verse to facilitate memorisation by students and scholars.
Q82. Who served as the celebrated court poet of Harshavardhana?
[RRB Group D, 2018]
A. Banabhatta
B. Harisena
C. Ravikirti
D. Kalidasa
Answer: A. Banabhatta
Explanation: Banabhatta’s association with Harsha produced Harshacharita, while his Kadambari became one of the most famous prose romances in classical Sanskrit.
Q81. The Chinese pilgrim I-Tsing is said to have studied Sanskrit for several years at which eastern Indian port?
[RRB Group D, 2018]
A. Tamralipti
B. Bharuch
C. Sopara
D. Kaveripattinam
Answer: A. Tamralipti
Explanation: I-Tsing reached the major eastern port of Tamralipti, where he studied Sanskrit before proceeding to major Buddhist centres including Nalanda.
