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Foundational Texts of Ancient India

Matching Ancient Scholars: Panini, Chanakya, Kalhana

Panini wrote Ashtadhyayi, Vatsyayana authored Kamasutra, Chanakya wrote Arthashastra, and Kalhana wrote Rajatarangini.

Primary Reference: NCERT Class XII - Themes in Indian History Part I

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Updated:

Match list-I with list-II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists:
List-I
A. Panini
B. Vatsyayana
C. Chanakya
D. Kalhana
List-II
1. Kamasutra
2. Rajatarangini
3. Ashtadhyayi
4. Arthashastra

[UPPCS (Pre) 1992]

Detailed Solution & Historical Context

Concept


Ancient India produced standardized foundational texts across grammar, ethics, politics, and history, many of which remain influential today.

Authentic Source Evidence


  • Panini: Authored Ashtadhyayi, the definitive Sanskrit grammar (4th BCE).

  • Vatsyayana: Authored Kamasutra, a treatise on pleasure and social living (3rd CE).

  • Chanakya: Authored Arthashastra, the science of statecraft (4th BCE).

  • Kalhana: Authored Rajatarangini, the history of Kashmir (12th CE).

    • Analytical Breakdown


  • A-3: Panini’s work is the pinnacle of linguistic science.

  • B-1: Vatsyayana focuses on 'Kama' as one of the four goals of life.

  • C-4: Chanakya’s work is the world’s oldest surviving manual on political realism.

  • D-2: Kalhana is celebrated for his objective historical methodology.

    • Conceptual Deep Dive & Logic

    "Which author is considered the first scientific historian of India?"

    Kalhana, for his work 'Rajatarangini' which relied on various empirical sources.

    Examiner's Mindset & Pro-Tip

    "These texts show that ancient Indian scholarship was highly specialized, ranging from linguistic precision to pragmatic power politics."

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