UPSC Prelims 2023 Q46: Art & Culture – Literature & Languages
- (a) Only one
- (b) Only two
- (c) Only three
- (d) All four
Answer: (b) Only two
Explanation
Ancient Indian Literary Works and Authors
| Pair | Work | Claimed Author | Verdict | Correct Attribution |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Devichandragupta | Bilhana | WRONG | Devichandragupta was written by Vishakhadatta (same author as Mudrarakshasa). Bilhana wrote Vikramankadevacharita. |
| 2 | Hammira-Mahakavya | Nayachandra Suri | CORRECT | Nayachandra Suri (a Jain scholar) wrote this Sanskrit epic about Hammira, the last Chahamana king of Ranthambore who resisted Alauddin Khalji. |
| 3 | Milindapanha | Nagarjuna | WRONG | Milindapanha is a Pali text recording dialogues between King Menander (Milinda) and the Buddhist monk Nagasena — not Nagarjuna. Nagarjuna was a philosopher who wrote Mulamadhyamakakarika. |
| 4 | Nitivakyamrita | Somadeva Suri | CORRECT | Somadeva Suri (different from Somadeva who wrote Kathasaritsagara) wrote Nitivakyamrita — a Jain political philosophy text. |
Pairs 2 and 4 correct → Only two.
Answer: (b) Only two.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. 'Only one' — both pairs 2 (Hammira-Mahakavya by Nayachandra) and 4 (Nitivakyamrita by Somadeva Suri) are correctly matched.
- (b) CORRECT. Pairs 2 and 4 are correctly matched. Devichandragupta was by Vishakhadatta (not Bilhana); Milindapanha involves Nagasena (not Nagarjuna).
- (c) Incorrect. 'Only three' — either pair 1 or pair 3 would need to be correct, but both contain wrong author attributions.
- (d) Incorrect. 'All four' — pairs 1 and 3 have definitively wrong author attributions.
Key point
Devichandragupta = Vishakhadatta (not Bilhana). Milindapanha = Nagasena + Milinda (not Nagarjuna). Hammira-Mahakavya = Nayachandra Suri ✓. Nitivakyamrita = Somadeva Suri ✓. Only pairs 2 and 4 correct.
Remember
Devichandragupta was written by Vishakhadatta (not Bilhana). Milindapanha records dialogues between King Milinda and monk Nagasena (not Nagarjuna). Hammira-Mahakavya by Nayachandra Suri and Nitivakyamrita by Somadeva Suri are correctly matched.
Common mistakes
- Confusing Nagasena with Nagarjuna — Nagasena is the Buddhist monk in Milindapanha; Nagarjuna is the Madhyamaka philosopher of a different era.
- Attributing Devichandragupta to Bilhana — Bilhana wrote Vikramankadevacharita; Devichandragupta is by Vishakhadatta (also wrote Mudrarakshasa).
- Not knowing Jain literary contributions — both Hammira-Mahakavya (Nayachandra) and Nitivakyamrita (Somadeva Suri) are Jain scholarly works.
Exam tip
Vishakhadatta = Mudrarakshasa + Devichandragupta. Bilhana = Vikramankadevacharita. Milindapanha = Milinda + Nagasena (not Nagarjuna — different person). Nagarjuna = Mulamadhyamakakarika. Classic name-confusion trap.
Sources
- R. S. Sharma — Ancient India (NCERT textbook for Class XI)
- A. K. Warder — Indian Kavya Literature (Motilal Banarsidass)