UPSC Prelims 2022 Q94: Medieval History – Medieval Culture & Historiography
"YogaVasistha" was translated into Persian by Nizamuddin Panipati during the reign of:
- (a) Akbar
- (b) Humayun
- (c) Shahjahan
- (d) Aurangzeb
Answer: (a) Akbar
Explanation
Yoga Vasistha in Persian
The Yoga Vasistha, a Sanskrit dialogue between sage Vasistha and Rama, was translated into Persian by Nizamuddin Panipati in 1597, under Akbar.
It was dedicated to Prince Salim (later Jahangir).
Akbar's translation bureau (Maktab Khana):
| Sanskrit work | Persian title or translator |
|---|---|
| Mahabharata | Razmnama (Badauni, Naqib Khan and others) |
| Ramayana | Translated by Badauni |
| Lilavati (mathematics) | Faizi |
| Yoga Vasistha | Nizamuddin Panipati |
Under Shah Jahan, Dara Shikoh later translated the Upanishads as Sirr-i-Akbar.
Answer: (a) Akbar.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) CORRECT. Nizamuddin Panipati translated the Yoga Vasistha in 1597, during Akbar's reign.
- (b) Incorrect. Humayun's reign saw little Sanskrit-to-Persian translation work.
- (c) Incorrect. Under Shah Jahan, Dara Shikoh translated the Upanishads, not this text.
- (d) Incorrect. Aurangzeb did not sponsor such translations.
Key point
Yoga Vasistha → Persian by Nizamuddin Panipati (1597, Akbar's reign); Akbar's Maktab Khana also produced the Razmnama.
Remember
Yoga Vasistha in Persian = Akbar's reign, 1597.
Common mistakes
- Choosing Shah Jahan because of Dara Shikoh's famous Upanishad translation.
- Forgetting that Akbar's Maktab Khana ran a large translation programme.
- Mixing up the Razmnama (Mahabharata) with other works.
Exam tip
Most major Sanskrit-to-Persian translations date to Akbar; Dara Shikoh's Upanishads (Shah Jahan era) is the big exception.
Sources
- NCERT Class XII — Themes in Indian History II, Ch 9 (Kings and Chronicles: the Mughal Courts)
- Satish Chandra — Medieval India, Part II (Cultural developments under Akbar)