Rigvedic Geography

Match Vedic Rivers with Modern Names | Kubha, Ravi

Kubha is the Kabul river, Purushni is the Ravi, Sadaneera is the Gandak, and Shutudri is the Sutlej.

Primary Reference: NCERT Class 11 - Ancient India (R.S. Sharma)

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Match the Vedic rivers with their modern names:
Vedic RiverModern Name
A. Kubha1. Gandak
B. Purushni2. Kabul
C. Sadaneera3. Ravi
D. Shutudri4. Sutlej

[UPPCS (Pre) 2012]

Detailed Solution & Historical Context

Concept


The Rigveda names rivers that allow historians to map the expansion of the Indo-Aryans from Afghanistan into the Gangetic plains.

Authentic Source Evidence


Kubha is Kabul (Afghanistan); Purushni is where the Battle of Ten Kings took place (Ravi); Sadaneera is the boundary of the Kosala-Videha (Gandak); Shutudri is the Sutlej.

Analytical Breakdown


  • Kubha (2): Kabul.

  • Purushni (3): Ravi.

  • Sadaneera (1): Gandak.

  • Shutudri (4): Sutlej.
  • Conceptual Deep Dive & Logic

    "Which river was known as the 'perpetual water' (Sadaneera)?"

    The Gandak river was called Sadaneera because it never dried up, marking the limit of settled Vedic agriculture in the east.

    Examiner's Mindset & Pro-Tip

    "The identification of these rivers proves the Vedic civilization's transition from the north-west mountain passes to the fertile eastern plains."

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