Q70. Charaka Samhita belongs to which branch of traditional Indian knowledge?
[RRB NTPC, 2016]
A. Ayurveda
B. Astronomy
C. Dramaturgy
D. Grammar
Answer: A. Ayurveda
Explanation: The Charaka Samhita is a foundational Ayurvedic medical text particularly concerned with internal medicine, diagnosis, therapeutics, physiology, diet and medical ethics.
Q69. Rajatarangini principally narrates the history of:
[RRB NTPC, 2016]
A. Kashmir
B. Magadha
C. Kalinga
D. Tamilakam
Answer: A. Kashmir
Explanation: Kalhana constructed a continuous narrative of Kashmir’s rulers using earlier chronicles, inscriptions, coins, legends and other sources available to him.
Q68. Manusmriti was originally composed in:
[RRB NTPC, 2016]
A. Sanskrit
B. Pali
C. Tamil
D. Persian
Answer: A. Sanskrit
Explanation: Manusmriti or Manava Dharmashastra is a Sanskrit Dharmashastra dealing with social duties, law, conduct, kingship and norms of the varna-ashrama order.
Q67. Which of the following was a celebrated ancient Indian mathematician?
[RRB NTPC, 2016]
A. Bhaskara
B. Bana
C. Bharata
D. Bhavabhuti
Answer: A. Bhaskara
Explanation: The name Bhaskara is associated with major Indian mathematician-astronomers, most famously Bhaskara II, author of Lilavati, Bijaganita and Siddhanta Shiromani.
Q66. Which famous Indian mathematical work is associated with Bhaskaracharya?
[RRB NTPC, 2016]
A. Lilavati
B. Natyashastra
C. Arthashastra
D. Nirukta
Answer: A. Lilavati
Explanation: Lilavati forms the arithmetic section of Bhaskara II’s Siddhanta Shiromani and discusses arithmetic, geometry, mensuration and mathematical problems in verse.
Q65. Who produced a well-known English translation of Manusmriti in the nineteenth century?
[RRB NTPC, 2016]
A. George Bühler
B. William Jones
C. Max Müller
D. James Prinsep
Answer: A. George Bühler
Explanation: Georg Bühler translated the Laws of Manu for the Sacred Books of the East series, contributing significantly to modern scholarly study of Dharmashastra literature.
Q64. The expression ‘Tamaso ma Jyotirgamaya’ belongs to which broad category of Vedic literature?
[Chhattisgarh PSC, 2016]
A. Upanishads
B. Puranas
C. Smritis
D. Vedangas
Answer: A. Upanishads
Explanation: The celebrated prayer occurs in the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad and asks to be led from untruth to truth, darkness to light and mortality to immortality.
Q63. The story of Satyakama Jabala occurs in which Upanishad?
[RPSC/RAS, 2016]
A. Chandogya Upanishad
B. Kena Upanishad
C. Isha Upanishad
D. Mundaka Upanishad
Answer: A. Chandogya Upanishad
Explanation: Satyakama Jabala’s story in the Chandogya Upanishad emphasises truthfulness and spiritual worth and is frequently discussed in relation to Vedic social ideas.
Q62. The title ‘Shvetashvatara’ literally conveys the idea of:
[Chhattisgarh PSC, 2016]
A. White horse
B. Sacred fire
C. Great forest
D. Supreme knowledge
Answer: A. White horse
Explanation: The name Shvetashvatara is conventionally interpreted from Sanskrit components meaning ‘white’ and ‘horse’; the Upanishad contains significant theistic and philosophical speculation.
Q61. Who wrote the modern archaeological-historical study The Roots of Ancient India?
[UPPCS Prelims, 2016]
A. Walter A. Fairservis
B. D. D. Kosambi
C. R. S. Sharma
D. A. L. Basham
Answer: A. Walter A. Fairservis
Explanation: Archaeologist Walter A. Fairservis authored The Roots of Ancient India, a modern scholarly work examining archaeological evidence for early Indian civilisation and cultural development.
