Question

Given below are two statements: one is labelled as Assertion (A) and the other is labelled as Reason (R).
Assertion (A): The 'Chandishatakam' of Banabhatta is composed in the Sragdhara meter.
Reason (R): The 'Tripurasundaristotram' is a work attributed to Shankaracharya.
In light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below:

• A. Both (A) and (R) are correct and (R) is the correct explanation of (A)
• B. Both (A) and (R) are correct but (R) is NOT the correct explanation of (A)
• C. (A) is correct but (R) is not correct
• D. (A) is not correct but (R) is correct

Hint:

Banabhatta's 'Chandishatakam' is a rare metrical work by a poet otherwise famous for prose. His choice of Sragdhara (21 syllables) mirrors Mayura's choice of Sragdhara for the 'Suryashatakam'.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Assertion (A) pertains to the specific literary work and meter of Banabhatta.
Reason (R) pertains to the authorship of a devotional stotra.

Step 3: Detailed Explanation:
Statement (A) is true.
'Chandishatakam' is a collection of 102 verses composed by Banabhatta (the author of Kadambari).
He wrote it to praise Goddess Chandi after his relative Mayurabhatta composed 'Suryashatakam'.
The entire work is indeed composed in the Sragdhara meter (a 21-syllable meter suitable for grand, fierce descriptions).

Statement (R) is also true.
The 'Tripurasundari Stotram' (beginning with "Kadamba-vana-charinim...") is a popular devotional hymn attributed to Adi Shankaracharya.
It is part of the vast corpus of Stotra literature he is credited with.

However, (R) has no logical connection to (A).
The fact that Shankaracharya wrote Tripurasundari Stotram does not provide the reason why Banabhatta wrote Chandishatakam in the Sragdhara meter.
These are two independent facts about Sanskrit literature.

Step 4: Final Answer:
Both statements are correct, but (R) is not the correct explanation for (A). Therefore, Option (B) is correct.