[Solved] Amarasimha: The Father of Sanskrit Lexicography

Amarasimha is the name of a

[CAPF 2015]

Detailed Solution & Historical Context

Concept

Lexicography (dictionary-making) was a highly developed science in ancient India, necessary for the standardization of Sanskrit.

Authentic Source Evidence

Amarasimha (4th century CE) was one of the 'Navaratnas' (Nine Gems) in the court of Chandragupta II. He wrote the Amarakosa, the most authoritative Sanskrit thesaurus.

Analytical Breakdown

Option A is Correct: He is a lexicographer. His work classifies over 10,000 Sanskrit words into three books (Kandas).

Note: Though he was a Buddhist, his work became so foundational that it has been used by scholars of all Indian religions for over 1,500 years.

Conceptual Deep Dive & Logic

"What is the Amarakosa?"

It is a foundational Sanskrit lexicon/dictionary written by Amarasimha, arranged in verse for easy memorization.

Examiner's Mindset & Pro-Tip

"Amarasimha’s work proves that Gupta scholarship achieved a peak of systematic organization across both secular and religious domains."

Topic Clusters (click to see related topic questions)

Navaratnas 10 Gupta Empire 7

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