Vedic Age

11. The Rig Veda is the [U.P.R.O./A.R.O. (Pre) 2016]

(a) Collection of hymns
(b) Collection of stories
(c) Collection of words
(d) Text of war

Correct Answer: (a) Collection of hymns

Solution:The Rig Veda is an ancient collection of Vedic Sanskrit hymns. It consists of thousands of such hymns of several seers, each hymn averaging around ten verses. It is one of the four cononicals sacred text (Shruti) of Hinduism known as 'Vedas.'

12. Match the List-I and List-II and choose your answer from the codes given below: [R.A.S./R.T.S. (Pre) 2013]

List-I	List-II
A. Rig Veda	i. Gopatha
B. Samaveda	ii. Shatpatha
C. Atharvaveda	iii. Aitariya
D. Yajurveda	iv. Panchvisha

Code:

	A	B	C	D
(a)	iv	ii	iii	i
(b)	ii	iv	iii	i
(c)	iii	iv	i	ii
(d)	i	ii	iv	iii

Correct Answer: (c)

Solution:The correctly matched order is :
Rig Veda - Aitariya
Samaveda - Panchvisha
Atharvaveda - Gopatha
Yajurveda - Shatpatha

13. Which one of the following Brahmana texts belongs to the Rigveda? [M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2017]

(a) Aitareya Brahmana
(b) Gopatha Brahmana
(c) Shatapatha Brahmana
(d) Taittitriya Brahmana

Correct Answer: (a) Aitareya Brahmana

Solution:The correctly matched order is :
Rig Veda - Aitariya
Samaveda - Panchvisha
Atharvaveda - Gopatha
Yajurveda - Shatpatha

14. 'Gopatha Brahmana' is associated with - [U.P.R.O./A.R.O. (Pre) 2014]

(a) Yajurveda
(b) Samveda
(c) Atharvaveda
(d) Rig Veda

Correct Answer: (c) Atharvaveda

Solution:The Gopatha Brahmana is the only Brahmana, a genre of the prose texts describing the Vedic rituals, associated with the Atharvaveda. The text is associated with both the Shaunaka and the Paippalada recensions of the Atharvaveda.

15. Which of the following is a Samhita of Shukla Yajurveda? [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2018]

(a) Vajasanami
(b) Maitrayani
(c) Taittiriya
(d) Kathak

Correct Answer: (a) Vajasanami

Solution:There are two branches of Yajurveda-Shukla Yajurveda and Krishna Yajurveda. Vajasneyi is the Samhita of Shukla Yajurveda. Shukla Yajurveda is available only in the poetic form whereas Krishna Yajurveda contains both poetic as well as prose form.

16. Which Mandala of Rig Veda is completely dedicated to 'Soma'? [42nd B.P.S.C. (Pre) 1997]

(a) Seventh Mandala
(b) Eight Mandala
(c) Ninth Mandala
(d) Tenth Mandala

Correct Answer: (c) Ninth Mandala

Solution:Rig Veda is the oldest Veda. It comprises of 10 Mandals. The 9ᵗʰ Mandal of Rig Veda comprises 114 hymns dedicated to 'Soma.'

17. The ninth mandala of the Rig Veda is devoted wholly to: [40ᵗʰ B.P.S.C. (Pre) 1995]

(a) Indra and his elephan
(b) Urvashi and the heaven
(c) Gods related to plants and drugs
(d) 'Soma', the god who is named after the drink

Correct Answer: (d) 'Soma', the god who is named after the drink

Solution:Rig Veda is the oldest Veda. It comprises of 10 Mandals. The 9ᵗʰ Mandal of Rig Veda comprises 114 hymns dedicated to 'Soma.'

18. Rights and Rituals related to Yajnas are mentioned in - [R.A.S./R.T.S. (Pre) 1999]

(a) Rig Veda
(b) Samaveda
(c) Brahmin Granthas
(d) Yajurveda

Correct Answer: (d) Yajurveda

Solution:Yajurveda in Sanskrit means 'wisdom of sacrificial formulas.' This Veda, compiled a century or two after the Rig-Veda, contains prose and verse formulae that were to be pronounced by the priests performing the manual part of the sacrifice. It describes in prose about the procedural details of performing different rituals and Yajnas using the hymns of the Rig Veda. The Samhitas of Yajur Veda are divided into two parts: Shukla or write Yajur Veda and Krishna or black Yajur Veda.

19. The compilation of which among the following is based upon the Rig Veda? [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1997]

(a) Yajurveda
(b) Samaveda
(c) Atharvaveda
(d) None of the above

Correct Answer: (b) Samaveda

Solution:The Samaveda is shortest among all the four Vedas. It is closely connected with the Rig Veda. It has taken many verses from the Rig Veda. The Samaveda is compiled inclusively for ritual application and all of its verses are meant to be chanted in ceremonies. Samaveda Samhita consists a total of 1875 verses. Amongst these except 75 or 99 verses, all of them are compiled in Rig Veda.

20. The earliest evidence of the use of iron in Indian has been discovered from : [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1998]

(a) Taxila
(b) Atranjikhera
(c) Kaushambi
(d) Hastinapur

Correct Answer: (b) Atranjikhera

Solution:Atranjikhera is a prehistoric and historic excavated archaeological site on the bank of Kali river, a tributary of Ganga. This site was first identified by Sir Alexander Cunningham in his survey report in 1861-62 but excavated by R.C. Gaur. A Trial trench put in 1962, was followed in the next year by digging an a small scale. Regular excavation was started in 1964. The earliest evidence of iron used in the region dated back to around 1000 B.C.