Vedic Age Quiz: WBPSC Clerkship GK
A little practice. A step forward.
10 questions on the Vedic age, each with an explanation. 📖 Read the detailed topic
How many mandalas (books) does the Rigveda Samhita have?
The Rigveda Samhita is divided into 10 mandalas holding about 1028 hymns. 8, 12 and 18 are not its number of books.
- 10 mandalas
- About 1028 hymns
- Mandalas 2 to 7 are the oldest (family books)
- Do not confuse it with the 18 Puranas
- Ten directions, ten mandalas
In which Veda is the Gayatri mantra found?
The Gayatri mantra is in the third mandala of the Rigveda, credited to the sage Vishwamitra and addressed to Savitri. The Samaveda is about songs, the Yajurveda about sacrificial rules, the Atharvaveda about spells and healing.
- Rigveda, third mandala
- Sage Vishwamitra
- Deity Savitri
- Do not look in the Samaveda just because it is sung
- The Rigveda comes first, so the primary mantra is there
| Veda | Content | Remember |
|---|---|---|
| Rigveda | Hymns to the gods, 10 mandalas | The oldest; the Gayatri mantra is here |
| Samaveda | Songs and melodies | Source of Indian music |
| Yajurveda | Rules and formulas for sacrifice | Two branches: Krishna and Shukla |
| Atharvaveda | Spells, healing, daily life | Different in character from the other three |
Which deity, with the most hymns addressed to him, was the most important in the Rigvedic age?
Indra, god of war and rain, has the most hymns in the Rigveda. Agni comes second, Varuna guards the moral order (rita), and Rudra grows in importance only later.
- Indra: god of war and rain, 'Purandara'
- Agni is the second major deity
- Varuna: guardian of rita
- Varuna is ancient and great but has fewer hymns than Indra
- Indra first, Agni next
On the bank of which river was the Battle of the Ten Kings fought?
Sudas of the Bharata clan defeated a coalition of ten kings on the bank of the Parushni, today's Ravi. The Vitasta is today's Jhelum; the Sindhu and Sarasvati are other rivers.
- King Sudas, Bharata clan
- Priest Vasishtha
- Described in the seventh mandala of the Rigveda
- Vitasta is the Jhelum, not the Ravi
- Parushni = Ravi
The battle is described in the seventh mandala of the Rigveda: Sudas of the Bharata clan on one side, a coalition of ten kings on the other. Sudas won.
In which hymn of the Rigveda is the varna system first mentioned?
The Purusha Sukta in the tenth mandala says the Brahmana came from the mouth of the primal being, the Kshatriya from the arms, the Vaishya from the thighs and the Shudra from the feet. The Nasadiya and Hiranyagarbha hymns deal with creation.
- Tenth mandala, Purusha Sukta
- Four varnas: Brahmana, Kshatriya, Vaishya, Shudra
- The tenth mandala is a relatively later addition
- The Nasadiya hymn is famous but is about creation
- Varna from the Purusha: Purusha Sukta
'Satyameva Jayate' is taken from which text?
'Satyameva Jayate nanritam' is a verse of the Mundaka Upanishad, linked with the Atharvaveda. The Chandogya and Katha Upanishads do not carry it. It is inscribed below India's national emblem.
- Mundaka Upanishad
- Written in Devanagari below India's national emblem
- The Upanishads discuss Brahman and the self
- Vedic in spirit, but from an Upanishad, not the Rigveda Samhita
- Mundaka = truth wins
- Samhita: the collection of hymns
- Brahmana: explanation of sacrifices
- Aranyaka: mystical discussion read in the forest
- Upanishad: philosophy, the end of the Veda, hence 'Vedanta'
What was the chief of a tribe called in the Rigvedic age?
The head of the tribe (jana) was the Rajan; the post was usually hereditary and the sabha and samiti kept his power in check. The Senani was the army commander, the Purohita a priest and adviser, the Gramani the head of a village.
- Rajan = chief of the tribe
- Sabha and Samiti advised him
- Bali was a voluntary gift, not a regular tax
- The Gramani headed a village, not the tribe
- 'Raja' comes from 'Rajan'
| Body/post | Role |
|---|---|
| Rajan | Tribal chief and war leader |
| Sabha, Samiti | Assemblies; advised the chief |
| Purohita | Priest for rites; adviser to the king |
| Senani | Army commander |
| Gramani | Head of a village |
The Ashvamedha, Rajasuya and Vajapeya sacrifices are mainly associated with which period?
The great royal sacrifices are marks of the later Vedic age (about 1000–600 BCE), when kings grew stronger and rituals more elaborate. Rigvedic society was simpler, the Harappan civilisation is older than the Vedas, and the Mauryan age is much later.
- Later Vedic age: about 1000–600 BCE
- Kuru and Panchala were famous kingdoms
- Royal and priestly power grew
- The Rigvedic age had simpler rites and hymns, not royal sacrifices
- Big sacrifice = big kingdom = later period
| Sacrifice | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Ashvamedha | Proclaiming the king's sovereignty over the land the released horse crosses |
| Rajasuya | The king's consecration |
| Vajapeya | A strength-displaying rite linked with a chariot race |
What was the main occupation of the Rigvedic Aryans?
In the Rigvedic age wealth was counted in cattle, so cattle rearing was the main occupation and farming was secondary. Trade and crafts were limited. Agriculture became central in the later Vedic age.
- Cattle were the measure of wealth
- Agriculture became central later
- 'Gavishti' meant search for cows, i.e. fighting
- Farming is mentioned in the Rigveda but is not the main occupation
- First cattle, then the plough
Which is the correct order of the four ashramas?
The four stages of life run Brahmacharya (study), Grihastha (household), Vanaprastha (forest life) and Sannyasa (renunciation). The other orders swap stages.
- Brahmacharya → Grihastha → Vanaprastha → Sannyasa
- The scheme took clear shape in the later Vedic age
- Vanaprastha comes before Sannyasa, not after
- B-G-V-S
| Order | Ashrama | Stage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brahmacharya | Student life |
| 2 | Grihastha | Householder |
| 3 | Vanaprastha | Retreat to the forest |
| 4 | Sannyasa | Renunciation |
📊 Topic Analysis
10 questions on the Vedic age, each with an explanation.
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