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UPSC CDS 2018 (II)

Buddhist Literature

Authentic Past Paper Standard Evaluation

The story Gandatindu Jataka was written in which language?

Solution & Analysis

Answer: D

Concept Jataka tales were popular stories of the Buddha’s previous births, used to teach moral lessons and documented in the vernacular of the common people.

Explanation All canonical Jataka stories, including the Gandatindu Jataka, are part of the Khuddaka Nikaya of the Sutta Pitaka, which is composed entirely in Pali.

Logical Breakup
Logic 1: Pali was the lingua franca of early Buddhism to ensure accessibility to the masses.
Logic 2: The Gandatindu Jataka is specifically cited in NCERT as a source describing the plight of subjects under a wicked king.

Active Recall

Question

What is the historical value of the Gandatindu Jataka?

Answer

It provides a rare 'bottom-up' perspective on how villagers suffered from heavy taxation and banditry, contrasting with official royal inscriptions.

Core Insight

Jataka stories serve as a vital secular archive of ancient social tensions, masked within religious narratives.

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