question_answer

Read the following extracts carefully and answer the questions that follows:

Samudragupta

In praise of Samudragupta

This is an excerpt from the Prayaga Prashasd:

He was without an antagonist on earth; he, by the overflowing of the multitude of (his) many good qualities adorned by hundreds of good actions, has wiped off the fame of other kings with the soles of (his) feet; (he is) Purusha (the Supreme Being), being the cause of the prosperity of the good and the destruction of the bad (he is) incomprehensible; (he is) one whose tender heart can be captured only by devotion and humility; (he is) possessed of compassion; (he is) the giver of many hundred-thousands of cows; (his) mind has received ceremonial initiation for the uplift of the miserable,. the poor, the forlorn and the suffering; (he is) resplendent and embodied kindness to mankind;, (he is) equal to (the-gods) Kubera (the god of wealth), Varuna (the god of the ocean), Indra. (the god of rains) and Yama (the god of death)...

(i) Who wrote the above Prashasti? State the importance of Prashasti.

(ii) Mention any three qualities of the ruler described in the excerpt.

(iii) How far are these values, shown by the rulers, relevant in the contemporary society? Explain.

Or

Why kinfolk quarreled

This is an excerpt from the Adi Parvan (literally, the first section) of the Sanskrit Mahabharata, describing why conflicts arose amongst the Kauravas and Pandavas: The Kauravas were the ... sons of Dhritarashtra, and the Pandavas... were their cousins. Since Dhritarashtra was blind, his younger brother Pandu ascended the throne of Hastinapura, ... However, after the premature death of Pandu, Dhritarashtra became king, as the royal princes were still very young. As the princes grew up together, the citizens of Hastinapura began to express their preference for the Pandavas, for they were more capable and virtuous than the Kauravas. This made Duryodhana, the eldest of the Kauravas, jealous. He approached his father and said; ?You yourself did not receive the throne, although, it fell to you because of your defect. If the Pandava receives the patrimony from Pandu, his son will surely inherit it in turn, and so will his son, and his. We ourselves with our sons shall be excluded from the royal succession and become of slight regard in the eyes of the world, lord of the earth!?

(i) Explain about the worries of Duryodhana. That he expressed to his father.

(ii) Mention the criteria for becoming king as suggested in the excerpt.

(iii) Why did the citizens of Hastinapur express their preference for the Pandavas?

Answer:

(i) The Prayaga Prashasti (also known as the ?Allahabad Pillar Inscription?) was composed in Sanskrit by Harishena.

This Prashasti said that Samudragupta was without an antagonist on earth, and was adorned by hundreds of good actions.

(ii) (a) The ruler should be powerful with plethora, of good qualities.

(b) The ruler should bring prosperity.

(c) The ruler should have compassion, and should try for the uplift of the miserable, the poor and. the forlorn.

(iii) (a) The values shown in the above mentioned passage are relevant in the contemporary society to a great extent. The rulers ought to have positive attitude for the welfare of his countrymen.

(b) He should try incessantly to bring prosperity and equality in all walks of life.

Or

(i) Duryodhana was worried that people of Hastinapur were showing preference for Pandavas as rightful kings. Pie was concerned that in such case, sons of Pandvas and then their sons will inherit the throne of Hastinapur and the Kauravas will be forgotten by the world and there will be less respect for them.

(ii) The excerpt suggested that the criteria for becoming the king was mostly hereditary and patrilineal that is, the son would inherit the throne from his father and then his son would inherit from him and so on.

(iii) People of Hastinapur expressed preference for Pandavas because Pandavas were deemed to be more capable and virtuous than Kauravas by the people. Also, people thought Pandavas were rightful heir of the throne after Pandu?s death.