CAPF 2018

Buddhist Canonical Literature

Authentic Past Paper Standard Evaluation

The Buddhist text 'Majjhima Nikaya' is in

Solution & Analysis

Answer: B

Concept The Pali Canon (Tipitaka) is the earliest collection of the Buddha's teachings, preserved by the Theravada tradition in the Pali language.

Explanation The Majjhima Nikaya (Middle Length Discourses) is the second of five collections in the Sutta Pitaka. It is written entirely in Pali.

Logical Breakup
Option B is Correct: Pali was the liturgical and literary language of early Buddhism in India and Sri Lanka.
Context: The Majjhima Nikaya consists of 152 discourses (sutras) attributed to the Buddha, covering ethics, meditation, and philosophy.

Active Recall

Question

What does the 'Middle Length' in Majjhima Nikaya refer to?

Answer

It refers to the length of the individual discourses, which are shorter than the Digha Nikaya but longer than others.

Core Insight

The use of Pali signaled Buddhism’s departure from the Sanskrit-centric Vedic tradition toward a more populist linguistic medium.