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Medium Factual Recall

Historical Geography of the Sapta Sindhu

Decode Historical Geography of the Sapta Sindhu through official answer keys.

Official Question UPSC 2026

Which of the following pairs of ancient and modern names of rivers is/are correctly matched ? 1. Vitasta : Chenab 2. Asikni : Jhelum 3. Parushni : Ravi 4. Yavyavati : Beas Select the answer using the code given below :

Solution & Analysis

Answer: C
Let us map the ancient geography of the Sapta Sindhu region as recorded in the Rigveda (specifically the Nadistuti Sukta):
•Pair 1 is Incorrectly Matched: The ancient Rigvedic name Vitasta corresponds to the modern Jhelum river, not the Chenab. (The Greeks famously called it the Hydaspes).
•Pair 2 is Incorrectly Matched: The ancient Rigvedic name Asikni corresponds to the modern Chenab river, not the Jhelum. The examiner deliberately swapped the first two pairs to create a distractor.
•Pair 3 is Correctly Matched: The ancient Rigvedic name Parushni corresponds accurately to the modern Ravi river. This river holds immense historical significance as the site of the legendary Battle of the Ten Kings (Dasarajna).
•Pair 4 is Incorrectly Matched: The recognized ancient Sanskrit name for the modern Beas river is Vipasha (or Vipasa), not Yavyavati.
Conclusion: Based on historical linguistics, only Pair 3 is correctly matched.

Quick Recall

The Rigveda references several major rivers of the Indus system by their ancient names. Historically, the river Vitasta corresponds to the Jhelum, Asikni to the Chenab, Vipasha to the Beas, and Parushni to the modern Ravi river.

Concept Flow Mapping

Parushni
Is Ancient Name Of
Ravi River
Vitasta
Is Ancient Name Of
Jhelum River
Asikni
Is Ancient Name Of
Chenab River

Concept Question

What is the modern name of the ancient Rigvedic river 'Parushni'?

Key Takeaway

The Ravi river.

Examiner's Trap

The examiner actively cross-swaps the ancient names of the Jhelum and Chenab (Pairs 1 and 2) and introduces an obscure, unrelated ancient term (Yavyavati) for the Beas to disorient candidates relying on partial memorization.

Core Insight

The Parushni (modern Ravi) is highly celebrated in the Rigveda as the site of the 'Dasarajna' or the Battle of the Ten Kings. Here, the Bharata king Sudas defeated a massive confederacy of ten opposing tribes, cementing the dominance of the Bharata lineage in early Vedic India.

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