UPSC CSE Prelims 1996, Paper I

Vedic Geography

Authentic Past Paper Standard Evaluation

The river mentioned most in early Vedic literature is:

Solution & Analysis

Answer: A

Concept The Rigveda provides a geographical map of the Aryan settlement known as 'Sapta Sindhu' (Land of Seven Rivers).

Explanation While Sarasvati is considered the most sacred (Naditarna), the Sindhu (Indus) is the river mentioned most frequently due to its physical prominence.

Logical Breakup

Sindhu (Indus): Most mentioned river.

Sarasvati: Most pious/sacred river.

Ganga: Mentioned only once in the early Rigveda, signifying it was at the eastern periphery of their world.

Active Recall

Question

What does the frequent mention of the Sindhu suggest about early Vedic life?

Answer

It indicates that the heartland of the early Rigvedic tribes was the Indus valley and its tributaries in the Punjab region.

Core Insight

The geographical focus shifts from the Sindhu in the early Rigveda to the Ganga-Yamuna Doab in later Vedic texts, reflecting the eastward movement of the Aryans.

The river mentioned most in early Vedic literature is:

Solution & Analysis

Active Recall

Core Insight

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