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Ancient Literature
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Q.1
WBCS Prelims 2023
Who wrote ‘Kumarasambhavam‘ ?
A. Vishnusharma
B. Dandin
C. Kalidasa
D. Somedeb
Explanation
Why Correct: Kalidasa composed Kumarasambhavam, an epic Sanskrit poem that narrates the birth of Kartikeya (Kumara), son of Shiva and Parvati, considered one of the greatest works of classical Sanskrit literature.
Distractor Analysis: Vishnusharma authored the Panchatantra, a collection of animal fables and moral stories. Dandin wrote the Dashakumaracharita and Kavyadarsha, important works of Sanskrit prose and poetics. Somadeva compiled the Kathasaritsagara, an 11th-century collection of Indian legends and folktales.
Takeaway: Kalidasa's other major works include Abhijnanashakuntalam (recognized as Shakuntala), Meghaduta, and Raghuvamsha, establishing him as the foremost classical Sanskrit poet and playwright.
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Q.2
WBCS Prelims 2022
List-I List-II

(a) Moriyas 1. Pippalivana

(b) Videhas 2. Mithila

(c) Licchavis 3. Vaishali

(d) Mallas 4. Kapilavastu Which of the above is/are not properly matched?
A. (a-1), (b-2), (c-3)
B. (a-2), (b-3), (c-1)
C. (a-3), (b-1), (c-2)
D. All are correctly matched
Explanation
Why Correct: Since the question lacks the necessary matching lists, no definitive correct answer can be determined from the given information.
Distractor Analysis: All options (A, B, C, D) are invalid because they depend on unspecified list items. The question structure is incomplete.
Takeaway: Matching questions must explicitly provide both lists to be matched; otherwise, they are unanswerable.
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Q.3
WBCS Prelims 2019
Who wrote Mrichhakatikam ?
A. Vishakhasdatta
B. Shudrak
C. Banabhatta
D. Bhas
Explanation
Why Correct: Shudrak authored Mrichhakatikam (The Little Clay Cart), a classical Sanskrit drama about a poor Brahmin merchant and a courtesan.
Distractor Analysis: Vishakhasdatta wrote Mudrarakshasa, a political drama about Chanakya. Banabhatta composed Harshacharita and Kadambari, biographies and prose works. Bhas (Bhasa) wrote Svapnavasavadatta and other plays predating Kalidasa.
Takeaway: Kalidasa's Abhijnanashakuntalam is considered the finest Sanskrit drama, featuring King Dushyanta and Shakuntala.
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Q.4
WBCS Prelims 2017WBCS Prelims 2015
The author of 'Kadambari' was
A. Kshemendra
B. Kalhana
C. Bhababhuti
D. Banabhatta
Asked 2 times in WBCS. High priority question.
Explanation
Why Correct: Banabhatta composed both 'Kadambari', a Sanskrit prose romance, and 'Harshacharita', a biography of Emperor Harsha.
Distractor Analysis: Kshemendra wrote the satirical 'Kalavilasa' and 'Desopadesha'. Kalhana authored the historical chronicle 'Rajatarangini' about Kashmir. Bhababhuti was a Sanskrit playwright known for 'Malatimadhava' and 'Uttararamacharita'.
Takeaway: Banabhatta served as the court poet of Emperor Harshavardhana, and his 'Harshacharita' is considered the first historical biography in Sanskrit literature.
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Q.5
WBCS Prelims 2016
The decline of the Nandas at the hands of Kautilya and Chandragupta Maurya has been vividly portrayed in the Sanskrit Play.
A. Mrichhakatika
B. Devi Chandragupta
C. Mattavilasa
D. Mudrarakshasa
Explanation
Why Correct: Mudrarakshasa by Vishakhadatta dramatizes Chanakya's political machinations to overthrow the Nanda dynasty and install Chandragupta Maurya as emperor around 324 BCE.
Distractor Analysis: Mrichhakatika is Shudraka's Sanskrit play about a love story between a Brahmin and a courtesan. Devi Chandragupta is a modern fictional work, not a classical Sanskrit play. Mattavilasa is a 7th-century Sanskrit farce by Mahendravarman I about drunken ascetics.
Takeaway: Vishakhadatta also wrote Devichandraguptam, which deals with Ramagupta's story, but only fragments survive.
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Q.6
WBCS Prelims 2020
Which of the followings clearly define ‘Mitakshara‘?
A. A work on astronomy.Iltutmish historical analysis
B. A treatise on ancient hindu law of Inheritance
C. A text on aquaculture.
D. A compendium on medicine
Explanation
Why Correct: Mitakshara is an 11th-century commentary on the Yajnavalkya Smriti, forming the foundation of Hindu inheritance law across most of India, except Bengal and Assam.
Distractor Analysis: Astronomy and historical analysis relate to works like Al-Biruni's Kitab-ul-Hind. Aquaculture texts include Matsya Purana. Medical compendiums include Charaka Samhita and Sushruta Samhita.
Takeaway: Dayabhaga, a different commentary on the same text, governs inheritance in Bengal and Assam, creating the Mitakshara-Dayabhaga dichotomy in Hindu law.
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