Question

Select the correct multichoice technical statements regarding Rigvedic literature and phonetics:
A. "Ajyam vai devanam" (Ghee is indeed for the gods) is a sentence found in the Aitareya Brahmana.
B. According to the Aitareya Brahmana, the Agni-offering (Agneya) involves nine potsherds (navakapala).
C. The Rigveda Pratishakhya consists of twenty-five chapters (Patalas).
D. The Rigveda Pratishakhya consists of eighteen chapters (Patalas).

• A. Only A and B
• B. Only A and D
• C. Only A and C
• D. Only B and C

Hint:

Use the "18 Parva Rule": Just as Mahabharata has 18 sections, the Rigveda Pratishakhya has 18 Patalas. For Agni, always remember "Agni = Gayatri = 8 syllables = 8 potsherds". This numeric link is foolproof.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
This question tests technical precision in two areas: the ritualistic theology of the Aitareya Brahmana and the structural organization of the Rigveda Pratishakhya (the phonetic manual of the Rigveda). In the NTA NET/SLET syllabus, memorizing the specific counts of chapters and ritual items is a standard requirement to distinguish between the various Vedic branches.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Let's evaluate each statement one by one:

Analysis of Statement A:
In the Aitareya Brahmana (specifically 2.9), while describing the 'Pashu-yaga' (animal sacrifice), the text explains the importance of ghee. It states: "ājyaṃ vai devānāṃ priyaṃ dhāma" (Ghee is the favorite abode/substance of the gods). It explains that ghee represents the "seed" of the sacrifice and is the only substance that truly nourishes the divine essence. This statement is a cornerstone of Aitareya's ritual philosophy. Thus, Statement A is correct.

Analysis of Statement B:
This is a technical trap. In the Rigvedic ritual system (Aitareya Brahmana 1.1), the standard offering to Agni in the initiation sacrifice (Dikshaniya) is an "ashtakapala" (a cake on eight potsherds), not nine. The number eight is chosen because it matches the eight syllables of the Gayatri meter, which is the meter of Agni. Offerings on nine potsherds are rare and belong to different deities or specific variations. Thus, Statement B is incorrect.

Analysis of Statements C and D:
The Rigveda Pratishakhya, attributed to the sage Shaunaka, is the oldest surviving systematic work on phonetics. Structurally, it is divided into three major sections (Adhyayas) which contain a total of eighteen chapters (Patalas). This number '18' is significant as it matches the number of chapters in the Bhagavad Gita and the Parvas of the Mahabharata, a recurring sacred number in Sanskrit literature. The statement about 25 chapters is incorrect. Thus, Statement C is incorrect and Statement D is correct.

Conclusion:
Combining these findings, we see that only A and D are factually accurate. Understanding these precise counts—Agni's 8 potsherds vs. Vishnu's 3 steps or the 18 Patalas of Shaunaka—is vital for scoring in the "Technical Vedic Literature" section of the exam.

Step 3: Final Answer:
Statements A and D are the only correct facts. Therefore, option (2) is correct.