Question

Arrange the following literary works in chronological order: \[ \text{A. Brahmanas} \] \[ \text{B. Rigveda} \] \[ \text{C. Panchatantra} \] \[ \text{D. Kautilya-Arthashastra} \] \[ \text{E. Upanishads} \] Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

• A. B, A, E, D, C
• B. A, B, C, E, D
• C. B, C, D, E, A
• D. C, D, E, B, A

Hint:

Chronology shortcut: \[ Rigveda \rightarrow Brahmanas \rightarrow Upanishads \rightarrow Arthashastra \rightarrow Panchatantra \]

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Concept:
To arrange literary works chronologically, we must know their broad historical order. The Vedic texts are among the earliest Indian literary works. Later came political, philosophical, and story literature.

Step 1: Identify the earliest text.
Rigveda is the earliest among the given works. So, the first text is: \[ B = \text{Rigveda} \]

Step 2: Place Brahmanas after Rigveda.
The Brahmanas are prose texts connected with Vedic rituals. They came after the Vedic hymns. So, the second text is: \[ A = \text{Brahmanas} \]

Step 3: Place Upanishads after Brahmanas.
The Upanishads represent philosophical thought and came after the ritual-focused Brahmana literature. So, the third text is: \[ E = \text{Upanishads} \]

Step 4: Place Kautilya-Arthashastra.
Kautilya-Arthashastra belongs to the Mauryan period and deals with polity, administration, economy, and statecraft. So, the fourth text is: \[ D = \text{Kautilya-Arthashastra} \]

Step 5: Place Panchatantra.
Panchatantra is a later collection of animal fables and moral stories. So, it comes after the earlier Vedic and Mauryan texts. Thus, the last text is: \[ C = \text{Panchatantra} \]

Step 6: Final arrangement.
The correct chronological order is: \[ B \rightarrow A \rightarrow E \rightarrow D \rightarrow C \] Hence, the correct answer is: \[ \boxed{\text{(A) B, A, E, D, C}} \]