Q. Consider the following information:
Non-Canonical TextAssociated AuthorDescription
1. MilindapanhoNagasena & Menander IPhilosophical dialogue between an Indo-Greek King and a Buddhist monk
2. BuddhacharitaAshvaghoshaEpic Sanskrit poetic narrative on the life of the Buddha
3. NettipakaranaVasumitraExegetical guide on the methodology and practical application of Buddha’s teachings
4. Vibhasha ShastrasKanishka IRoyal administrative decree detailing tax exemptions for Buddhist monasteries
In which of the above rows is the given information correctly matched?
Answer: A
Notes:
Detailed Explanation:
- Row 1 is correctly matched: Milindapanho (Questions of Milinda) is a Pali text recording a philosophical debate on Buddhist principles between the Indo-Greek King Menander I (Milinda) and the sage Nagasena.
- Row 2 is correctly matched: Buddhacharita is a famous Sanskrit mahakavya (epic poem) recounting the life of Gautama Buddha, authored by Ashvaghosha (court scholar during Kanishka’s reign).
- Row 3 is incorrectly matched: Nettipakarana (or Netti) is a guide on hermeneutics and interpretation of Buddhist teachings traditionally attributed to Kaccayana (or Kaccana).
- Row 4 is incorrectly matched: The Vibhasha Shastras (such as the Mahavibhasha) are monumental encyclopedic philosophical commentaries on the Abhidharma compiled by scholars like Vasumitra during the Fourth Buddhist Council.
