CDS 2021(I)

Mughal Scientific Exchange

Authentic Past Paper Standard Evaluation

Which one of the following scholars of Akbar's court translated Bhaskaracharya's Lilavati into Persian ?

Solution & Analysis

Answer: B

Concept Akbar’s 'Maktab Khana' (Translation Bureau) was not limited to religious epics but included technical and scientific Sanskrit works to enhance Mughal intellectual capacity.

Explanation Faizi, the poet laureate and brother of Abul Fazl, was commissioned to translate Bhaskaracharya’s Lilavati (a treatise on arithmetic/algebra) into Persian.

Logical Breakup
Option B is Correct: Faizi completed the translation to make Indian mathematical breakthroughs accessible to the Persian-speaking world.
Logic: This project was part of Akbar's wider 'Persianisation' of Indian technical knowledge, alongside the translation of the Mahabharata and Ramayana.

Active Recall

Question

What is the subject of the original Lilavati?

Answer

It is a foundational Sanskrit text on arithmetic and algebra, written by Bhaskara II in the 12th century.

Core Insight

The translation of Lilavati proves that the Mughal interest in Indian heritage was academic and pragmatic, extending far beyond simple literature.