UPSC Prelims 2003 · General Studies

Question 43: History and Culture

Consider the following statements:

1.Vardhamana Mahavira’s mother was the daughter of Lichchhavi chief Chetaka.
2.Gautama Buddha’s mother was a princess from the Kosha-lan dynasty.
3.Parshvanatha, the 23rd Tirthankara, belonged to Banaras.

Which of these statements is/are correct?

aOnly 1

bOnly 2

c2 and 3

d1, 2 and 3

AnswerThe answer is (c).

Statements 2 and 3 are accepted as correct. Parshvanatha, the 23rd Tirthankara, was born at Varanasi, the son of King Ashvasena. Mahavira's mother Trishala was the sister of the Lichchhavi chief Chetaka, not his daughter, which makes statement 1 false. Buddha's mother Mahamaya is described here as a princess of a neighbouring royal dynasty, and the question counts statement 2 as true.

1. Mahavira's mother Trishala was Chetaka's sister, not his daughter.
2. Accepted by the key, which counts Buddha's mother as a princess of a neighbouring royal dynasty.
3. Parshvanatha, the 23rd Tirthankara, was born at Varanasi.

Why each option is right or wrong

(a) Statement 1 is false: Trishala was Chetaka's sister.
(b) Statement 3 is also true, so 'only 2' is incomplete.
(c) Correct: statements 2 and 3.
(d) Statement 1 is false, so all three cannot hold.

Worth knowing: Buddha's mother Mahamaya is usually described as a Koliya princess of Devadaha, not a Kosalan one, so statement 2 is doubtful; it has to be counted as true for the options to work.

Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2003, General Studies. UPSC's own paper isn't online; the words are from a published compilation. The paper on upsc.gov.in.