Q60. The Battle of Ten Kings was fought on the banks of which river?
[2022 – UPSC CDS-I]
A. Parushni
B. Ganga
C. Godavari
D. Narmada
Answer: A. Parushni
Explanation: The Dasarajna battle described in Rigveda VII involved Sudas of the Bharatas and a confederacy of tribes. Parushni is generally identified with the modern Ravi.
Q59. Which statement best describes kingship in the Early Rigvedic period?
[2022 – DSSSB]
A. The king’s eldest son automatically inherited without exception.
B. Kingship was not yet an absolute, fully automatic hereditary monarchy.
C. There was no Rajan.
D. Kings were elected by foreign traders.
Answer: B. Kingship was not yet an absolute, fully automatic hereditary monarchy.
Explanation: The Rigvedic Rajan was fundamentally a tribal chief whose authority was constrained by customary institutions and assemblies. Hereditary monarchy became more strongly entrenched in later periods.
Q58. Which of the four Vedas contains the largest number of verses?
[2022 – RRB Group D]
A. Rigveda
B. Samaveda
C. Atharvaveda
D. Yajurveda
Answer: A. Rigveda
Explanation: The Rigveda is the largest major hymnic collection among the early Vedic Samhitas, preserving more than one thousand hymns and over ten thousand individual verses.
Q57. The Rigveda comprises 1,028 hymns arranged into how many principal books?
[2022 – RRB NTPC]
A. 8
B. 10
C. 12
D. 16
Answer: B. 10
Explanation: The ten Mandalas constitute the major textual divisions of Rigveda. Their arrangement reflects both family traditions and thematic organization, with the ninth largely devoted to Soma.
Q56. Which Veda is especially associated with formulae used in the performance of rituals?
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A. Yajurveda
B. Rigveda
C. Samaveda
D. Atharvaveda
Answer: A. Yajurveda
Explanation: The Yajurveda served the Adhvaryu priest and provides verbal formulae accompanying ritual actions, distinguishing it from the Rigveda’s hymns and Samaveda’s melodic chants.
Q55. In Later Vedic administration, “Sangrahitri” was associated with which function?
[2022 – RRB Group D]
A. Treasury or financial administration
B. Leading the cavalry
C. Teaching Vedic hymns
D. Measuring agricultural land only
Answer: A. Treasury or financial administration
Explanation: Sangrahitri is generally understood as the treasurer or keeper of collections. The office illustrates the increasing complexity of royal administration during the Later Vedic phase.
Q54. Charms and magical spells form a distinctive component of which Veda?
[2022 – UPPCL AE]
A. Atharvaveda
B. Rigveda
C. Samaveda
D. Yajurveda
Answer: A. Atharvaveda
Explanation: Atharvaveda records spells, healing charms, domestic rites and prayers for protection or prosperity, offering a broader picture of everyday belief than formal sacrificial texts.
Q53. The Vedic period is conventionally placed approximately between:
[2021 – RRB NTPC]
A. 2500–2000 BCE
B. 1500–500 BCE
C. 500 BCE–500 CE
D. 1200–1700 CE
Answer: B. 1500–500 BCE
Explanation: Competitive-examination chronology usually divides the Vedic Age into Early Vedic or Rigvedic, around 1500–1000 BCE, and Later Vedic, roughly 1000–500/600 BCE.
Q52. Which Veda is most closely associated with music?
[2021 – RRB NTPC]
A. Rigveda
B. Samaveda
C. Atharvaveda
D. Yajurveda
Answer: B. Samaveda
Explanation: Samaveda transformed selected verses into liturgical melodies for chanting. The specialized notation and recitation tradition made it a foundational source for the history of Indian music.
Q51. Which Veda is traditionally regarded as the fourth Veda?
[2021 – RRB NTPC]
A. Rigveda
B. Samaveda
C. Yajurveda
D. Atharvaveda
Answer: D. Atharvaveda
Explanation: Rig, Sama and Yajur formed the older ritual triad or Vedatrayi. Atharvaveda subsequently gained recognition as the fourth canonical Veda.
