History · X-Factor Notes
Quick Revision Summary: Ancient Literature and Litterateurs revision notes for UPPCS Prelims.
High-Yield Revision| Concept | What to remember | Asked in UPPCS |
|---|---|---|
| Mahabharata (Original Name) | Its original name was ‘Jaya’ or Jayasamhita. It originally contained 8,800 Shlokas and is nicknamed the Shatasahasri-Samhita (text of 100,000 verses). The epic contains the profound statement, “what is here is also found elsewhere, but if not here is found nowhere else”. | U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1992, U.P.R.O/A.R.O. (Pre) 2014, U.P.B.E.O. (Pre.) 2019 |
| Shrimad Bhagavad Gita | Originally written in the Sanskrit language. It states the core doctrine, “Thy right is to work only, but never with its fruits” (Karma doctrine). | U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1992 |
| Upanishads (Core Concepts) | Form the Gyan-Kanda segment of the Vedas. The concept of Moksha |
| Concept | What to remember | Asked in UPPCS |
|---|---|---|
| Ashtadhyayi | Classic Sanskrit grammatical work written by Panini. | U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1992, U.P.P.S.C. (GIC) 2010, U.P.R.O/A.R.O. (Mains) 2017 |
| Mahabhashya | Grammatical commentary written by Patanjali. Patanjali was contemporary to Pushyamitra Shunga. | U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2011, U.P.R.O/A.R.O. (Mains) 2017 |
| Related Grammarians |
| Concept | What to remember | Asked in UPPCS |
|---|---|---|
| Mudrarakshasa | Historical drama in Sanskrit by Vishakhadatta. Its subject is the court intrigues at the time of Chandragupta Maurya. | U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1992, U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2009 |
| Mrichchhakatika | Sanskrit play ("The Little Clay Cart") by Shudraka. Deals with the love story of Charudatta and Vasantasena. | |
| Kalidasa (Patronage) |
| Concept | What to remember | Asked in UPPCS |
|---|---|---|
| Tolkappiyam | The most ancient extant text of Tamil literature, serving as a treatise on grammar and poetry (poetics). | U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1997, U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2014 |
| Silapadikaram | Key Tamil epic whose author was Ilango Adigal (grandson of Chola King Karikal). | U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2002 |
| Kural/Tirukkural |
| U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2014 |
| Mundakopanishad | The Sanskrit phrase ''Satyameva Jayate'' was taken from this text. | U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1991, U.P.P.S.C. (R.I.) 2014 |
|---|
| Kathopanishad | Records the conversation between Yama (Lord of death) and Nachiketa. | U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2006 |
|---|
| Puranas (Information) | There are 18 Puranas. The Vishnu Purana provides information about the Mauryan dynasty, while the Vayu Purana relates to the Gupta's governance system. | U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2023 |
|---|
| Manusmriti | Mainly related to the Social System and Law. Manu is considered the first law-giver of India. | U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2004, U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2008 |
|---|
| Yaska wrote Nirukta. Katyayan wrote Varttika. |
| U.P.R.O/A.R.O. (Mains) 2017 |
| Arthashastra | Written by Kautilya (Vishnugupta/Chanakya). It is a book on the principles of government/statecraft and political policies. It is often compared to Machiavelli’s Prince. | U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1994, U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2002 |
|---|
| Charaka Samhita | Oldest surviving foundational text of Ayurveda (Medicine). Charaka was the court physician of Kanishka. | U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2023 |
|---|
| Panchasiddhantika | Written by Varahamihira. It is notable for being based on Greek astronomy. | U.P.P.S.C. (R.I.) 2014 |
|---|
| Brihat Samhita | Written by Varahamihira. It is an encyclopedic work. |
|---|
| Lilavati | Treatise on Mathematics written by Bhaskaracharya (Bhaskara-II). | U.P.P.S.C. (GIC) 2017 |
|---|
| Rotation of Earth | Aryabhatta was the first to explain that the rotation of the earth on its axis accounts for the daily rising and setting of the sun. He also discovered the decimal place. | U.P.P.S.C. (R.I.) 2014 |
|---|
| He was the prominent 'Navratna' in the court of Chandragupta II (Vikramaditya). |
| U.P. Lower Sub. (Spl) (Pre) 2008 |
| Kalidasa (Works) | Composed Kumarasambhava, Malavikagnimitram (his first play), Meghadutam, and Raghuvamsha. Uttararamacharitam was NOT written by him (it was by Bhavabhuti). | U.P. Lower Sub. (Spl) (Pre) 2008, U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2006, U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2009 |
|---|
| Literary Works of Harsha | The ruler Harshavardhana is credited with authoring the Sanskrit plays ‘Priyadarshika,’ ‘Nagananda,’ and ‘Ratnavali’. | U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2006, U.P.R.O./A.R.O. (Pre) 2014 |
|---|
| Harshacharita | Biographical account written by his court poet, Banabhatta. |
|---|
| Rajatarangini | Historical chronicle of Kashmir written by Kalhana. The text is divided into eight Tarangas. It was continued by Jonaraja and Srivara. | U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2000, U.P.P.S.C. (GIC) 2010, U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2015 |
|---|
| Rajasekhara | Wrote the Prakrit text ‘Karpuramanjari’. He was associated with Pratihara Kings Mahendrapala I/Mahipala I. | U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2012, U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2006 |
|---|
| U.P.R.O./A.R.O. (Mains) 2013 |
| Milindapanha | Buddhist text in Pali language. It is a dialogue between the monk Nagasena and the Indo-Greek King Milinda (Menander). It also discusses eight different phases of agricultural works. | U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1996 |
|---|
| Buddhist Tripitaka | Vinaya Pitaka specifically contains the rules for monastic life (Sangha). | U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1996 |
|---|
| Buddhist Authors | Ashvaghosha wrote Buddhacharita (life of Buddha). |
|---|
| Jain Literature | Texts like Parishishtaparvan and Trishashtilakshana Mahapurana are Jaina texts. |
|---|
| Yavanapriya (Term) | Sanskrit term meaning "favourite of the Greeks" which denoted Pepper. |
|---|
| Mattavilasa Prahasana | Play written by the Pallava ruler Mahendra Varman I. | U.P. U.D.A./L.D.A. (Spl) (Pre) 2010 |
|---|
| Maagadha | A person whose profession was the memorizing of Chronicles, dynastic histories, and epic tales. |
|---|
