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Uttarakhand P.C.S. Prelims 2010

Ancient Indian Literature

Authentic Past Paper Standard Evaluation

Which one of the following is oldest Veda?

Solution & Analysis

Answer: B

Concept The Vedic corpus consists of four texts, with the earliest representing the first literary work of the Indo-Aryans in India.

Explanation The Rig Veda is dated by most scholars to c. 1500–1000 BCE. It is a collection of 1,028 hymns (Suktas) organized into 10 books (Mandalas).

Logical Breakup
Rig Veda (B): The 'Veda of Praise', the foundation of all subsequent Vedic literature.
Others: Samaveda and Yajurveda followed shortly after, while the Atharvaveda was the last to be included in the 'Trayi' (Vedic triad).

Active Recall

Question

Which part of the Rig Veda is considered the oldest?

Answer

Mandalas 2 through 7 (known as the Family Books) are considered the oldest core of the Rig Veda.

Core Insight

The Rig Veda is not just a religious text but a historical record of the early social and political life of the Indo-Aryan tribes.

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