Q170. Who composed the Allahabad Pillar or Prayaga Prashasti of Samudragupta?
[SSC CHSL, 2025]
A. Kalidasa
B. Harisena
C. Banabhatta
D. Ravikirti
Answer: B. Harisena
Explanation: Harisena served Samudragupta and composed his elaborate Sanskrit eulogy, documenting conquests and political relationships while exemplifying the ornate Prashasti tradition.
Q169. Which ancient scholar is most famous for systematising Sanskrit grammar through the Ashtadhyayi?
[SSC CHSL, 2025]
A. Panini
B. Patanjali
C. Katyayana
D. Yaska
Answer: A. Panini
Explanation: Panini’s Ashtadhyayi systematically formulates Sanskrit grammar through nearly four thousand concise rules and became the foundational work of the Sanskrit grammatical tradition.
Q168. Which Buddhist text is sometimes described as the ‘Gita of Buddhism’?
[RRB NTPC, 2025]
A. Dhammapada
B. Mahavamsa
C. Milindapanha
D. Dipavamsa
Answer: A. Dhammapada
Explanation: The Dhammapada is a celebrated collection of verses on Buddhist ethics, mental discipline and wisdom preserved within the Khuddaka Nikaya of the Pali Canon.
Q167. In which Veda are learned women such as Ghosha, Apala and Visvavara associated with hymns?
[RRB NTPC, 2025]
A. Rigveda
B. Samaveda
C. Yajurveda
D. Atharvaveda
Answer: A. Rigveda
Explanation: Several hymns of the Rigveda are traditionally associated with women seers, including Ghosha, Apala, Lopamudra and Visvavara, indicating female participation in Vedic intellectual traditions.
Q166. Which Buddhist text prominently expresses the doctrine that conditioned things are impermanent and all dhammas are without a permanent self?
[RRB NTPC, 2025]
A. Dhammapada
B. Arthashastra
C. Manusmriti
D. Kalpa Sutra
Answer: A. Dhammapada
Explanation: Verses in the Dhammapada summarise core Buddhist principles including impermanence, suffering and non-self, presenting moral and philosophical teachings in memorable poetic form.
Q165. Which of the following is a famous Sanskrit drama by Kalidasa?
[RRB NTPC, 2025]
A. Abhijnanashakuntalam
B. Mudrarakshasa
C. Mrichchhakatika
D. Uttararamacharita
Answer: A. Abhijnanashakuntalam
Explanation: Abhijnanashakuntalam narrates the story of Dushyanta and Shakuntala and is Kalidasa’s internationally celebrated dramatic adaptation of a Mahabharata episode.
Q164. Who wrote the Sanskrit-Bengali historical poem Ramacharita?
[UPSC NDA, 2025]
A. Sandhyakara Nandi
B. Bilhana
C. Kalhana
D. Jayadeva
Answer: A. Sandhyakara Nandi
Explanation: Sandhyakara Nandi’s Ramacharita uses double meaning to narrate both the Ramayana story and events involving the Pala ruler Ramapala.
Q163. The Prayaga Prashasti is also commonly known as the:
[SSC CGL, 2025]
A. Allahabad Pillar Inscription
B. Aihole Inscription
C. Mehrauli Inscription
D. Junagadh Inscription
Answer: A. Allahabad Pillar Inscription
Explanation: The Prayaga Prashasti is engraved on the ancient pillar at Prayagraj and was composed by Harisena to celebrate the achievements of Samudragupta.
Q162. Who was the celebrated court poet and biographer of Harshavardhana?
[SSC CGL, 2025]
A. Dandin
B. Banabhatta
C. Bharavi
D. Magha
Answer: B. Banabhatta
Explanation: Banabhatta served Harsha and wrote Harshacharita and the prose romance Kadambari, becoming one of the foremost prose stylists of Sanskrit literature.
Q161. Which literary figure is traditionally counted among the Navaratnas of Vikramaditya and associated with Mantrashastra?
[SSC CGL, 2025]
A. Vetala Bhatta
B. Varahamihira
C. Kalidasa
D. Amarasimha
Answer: A. Vetala Bhatta
Explanation: Traditional Navaratna lists associate Vetala Bhatta with specialised learning including Mantrashastra, although such court lists belong largely to later literary tradition.
