UPSC CSE Prelims 1995

Medieval Legal Literature

Authentic Past Paper Standard Evaluation

Who among the following was not a famous jurists of medieval India?

Solution & Analysis

Answer: C

Concept Medieval India saw the compilation of significant legal treatises (Dharmashastras/Digests) that governed social life and inheritance. Jurists like Vijnaneshwara provided the legal foundation for modern Hindu law.

Explanation Vijnaneshwara (Mitakshara), Hemadri (Chaturvargachintamani), and Jimutavahana (Dayabhaga) were all renowned for their legal scholarship. Rajashekhara was a poet and critic at the Pratihara court.

Logical Breakup
Logic 1: Vijnaneshwara and Jimutavahana represent the two major schools of Hindu Law (Mitakshara and Dayabhaga).
Logic 2: Rajashekhara, while famous, is known for works like *Kavyamimamsa* and *Karpuramanjari*, which deal with literature and poetics, not law.

Active Recall

Question

What is the main difference between Mitakshara and Dayabhaga?

Answer

In Mitakshara, sons acquire interest in ancestral property by birth, whereas in Dayabhaga, they only inherit after the father's death.

Core Insight

The codification of laws by these jurists allowed for a uniform social structure across various kingdoms in Medieval India.