UPSC Prelims 1998 · General Studies
Question 71: History and Culture
Which of the following pairs are correctly matched? I. Mrichchhakatikam — Shudraka II. Buddhacharita — Vasuvandhu III. Mudrarakshasha — Vishakhadatta IV. Harshacharita — Banabhatta Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
AnswerThe answer is (b).
Mrichchhakatikam (The Little Clay Cart) is a play by Shudraka, Mudrarakshasa is a play by Vishakhadatta, and Harshacharita is the biography of Harsha by Banabhatta. The Buddhacharita is a poem on the life of the Buddha by Asvaghosha, not Vasuvandhu, who was a Buddhist philosopher. So I, III and IV are correct.
- I. Mrichchhakatikam is by Shudraka.
- II. The Buddhacharita is by Asvaghosha, not Vasuvandhu.
- III. Mudrarakshasa is by Vishakhadatta.
- IV. Harshacharita is by Banabhatta.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) II is wrong: Asvaghosha wrote the Buddhacharita.
- (b) Right: I, III and IV are correct.
- (c) Leaves out III, which is correct.
- (d) II is wrong, and it leaves out I and IV.
Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 1998, General Studies. UPSC's own paper isn't online; the words are from a published compilation. The paper on upsc.gov.in.