Here is Question No. 36 a part of our series on UPSC Prelims 2020.
Q36. With reference to the scholars/litterateurs of ancient India, consider the following statements:
- Panini is associated with Pushyamitra Shunga.
- Amarasimha is associated with Harshavardhana
- Kalidasa is associated with Chandra Gupta-II
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: C
- Statement 1 is not correct: Paṇini was an ancient Sanskrit grammarian and a revered scholar in ancient India. Considered the Father of linguistics, Paṇini likely lived in the northwest Indian subcontinent during the Mahajanapada era. His major work is Astadhyayi (Astaka). His work is dated around the 3rd-4th century BC. The Shunga Empire was an ancient Indian dynasty from Magadha that controlled areas of the central and eastern Indian subcontinent from around 185 to 75 BCE. The dynasty was established by Pushyamitra Shunga, after the fall of the Mauryan Empire.
- Statement 2 is not correct: Amarasimha, a Sanskrit grammarian and poet is said to have been one of the nine gems that adorned the court of Vikramaditya (Chandragupta II) whose reign was around 375 CE. King Harshavardhana, also known as Harsha was the son of Prabhakar Vardhana. Prabhakar Vardhana was the founder of the Pushyabhuti Dynasty or the Vardhana Dynasty. Harshavardhana is considered as one of the most prominent Indian emperors in the 7th century AD.
- Statement 3 is correct: Kalidasa, the classical Sanskrit author, playwright and dramatist, flourished during the reign of Chandragupta II. His work Abhijanasakuntalam is one of the 100 best literary works in the world.
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