Prelims 1997 · archive
MediumMatch List-I (Author) with List-II (Text) and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists:
| List-I (Author) | List-II (Text) | |
|---|---|---|
| A. | Varahamihira | 1. Prabandha Chintamani |
| B. | Vishakhadatta | 2. Mrichchakatikam |
| C. | Sudraka | 3. Brihat-Samhita |
| D. | Bilhana | 4. Devi-Chandraguptam |
| —. | — 5. Vikramankadevacharita |
Codes:
Answer & explanation
Answer: (b) A-3; B-4; C-2; D-5
Varahamihira wrote the Brihat-Samhita (3), Vishakhadatta the Devi-Chandraguptam (4), Sudraka the Mrichchakatikam (2) and Bilhana the Vikramankadevacharita (5), giving A-3, B-4, C-2, D-5.
- ✓ A Varahamihira composed the Brihat-Samhita, an encyclopaedic work on astronomy, astrology and more.
- ✓ B Vishakhadatta wrote the Devi-Chandraguptam (as well as the Mudrarakshasa).
- ✓ C Sudraka is the author of the play Mrichchakatikam.
- ✓ D Bilhana, the Kashmiri poet, wrote the Vikramankadevacharita; Prabandha Chintamani is by Merutunga.
Remember · Varahamihira–Brihat-Samhita; Vishakhadatta–Devi-Chandraguptam; Sudraka–Mrichchakatikam; Bilhana–Vikramankadevacharita.
📘 Read it in NCERT: Class 7 Exploring Society: India and Beyond (Part 1), Ch 7 (practise this chapter) · Class 11 Knowledge Traditions and Practices of India, Part I, Ch 3 (practise this chapter)
Sources
- NCERT Class 7 · Exploring Society: India and Beyond (Part 1), Chapter 7 “His encyclopedic work, Brihat Samhita, covered a wide range of subjects from astronomy and astrology to weather forecasting”
- NCERT Class 11 · Knowledge Traditions and Practices of India, Part I, Chapter 3 “Shudraka wrote Mrcchakatikam, which is undoubtedly a masterpiece.”
Question: UPSC Civil Services (Preliminary) 1997, General Studies paper. UPSC did not publish an answer key for 1997: the answer shown is the one the sources above support. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 24 Oct 2026 (how we verify). ·