OPSC OAS 2022 PrelimsHistory, Art & CultureQuestion 2
Solved previous year question from the OPSC OAS/OCS 2022 Preliminary Examination (General Studies), with the official answer key and a detailed explanation.
Question
Consider the following statements regarding the Rig Veda.
- It mentions the Aryans as a cultural community.
- It has many commonalities with Avesta.
- It mentions Saraswati as naditarna.
- It indicates that the dasyus kept cattle for dairy products.
Which of the following are correct?
Tap an option to check your answer.
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Answer & Explanation
Correct answer: (A) 1, 2 and 3
The Rig Veda correctly:
- The Rig Veda uses the term ‘Arya’ to denote a cultural and social identity — referring to those who followed certain norms, rituals, and way of life — rather than a racial category. So describing Aryans as a cultural community is accurate.
- The Rig Veda shares significant commonalities with the Avesta, the sacred scripture of Zoroastrianism. Both texts share common deities (e.g., Mitra/Mithra), similar linguistic roots, and common Indo-Iranian traditions, pointing to a shared ancestral heritage before the two groups separated.
- The Rig Veda describes the Saraswati river as "Naditama", meaning the greatest or best of rivers. This reflects the immense cultural and religious importance attached to the Saraswati in Vedic times.
- The Rig Veda does not indicate that Dasyus kept cattle specifically for dairy products. Rather, the Dasyus are portrayed as adversaries of the Aryans, and cattle in the Rig Veda are primarily mentioned in the context of raids and warfare — with the Aryans conducting cattle raids (Gavishti) against the Dasyus — not dairy practices.
