Defence
Medhatithi (9th-10th century CE) is best known as a commentator on the:
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Answer: Option A — Manusmriti
Detailed Solution
Medhatithi is best known as the author of the oldest surviving commentary on the "Manusmriti" (Manava Dharmashastra), called the "Manubhashya".
About Medhatithi:
- He is believed to have lived in the 9th or 10th century CE.
- He probably belonged to Kashmir (or north India), according to many scholars.
- His commentary, the "Manubhashya", is a detailed and scholarly explanation of the Manusmriti.
- He used the methods of Mimamsa (Vedic interpretation) to interpret the verses.
His views:
- He is known for his relatively progressive and rational interpretations of some rules.
- He discussed the rights of women regarding property, and argued that a wife was entitled to maintenance.
- He gave importance to custom ("achara") and to the practical needs of society.
- He discussed the duties of kings, the administration of justice, and the rules of inheritance.
About the Manusmriti:
- It is one of the most important Dharmashastra texts, attributed to the legendary Manu.
- It was composed between about 200 BCE and 200 CE.
- It has 12 chapters and about 2,700 verses.
- It deals with dharma (duties), varna, ashramas, marriage, inheritance, kingship, law and penance.
- NCERT discusses the Manusmriti as one of the best-known legal texts of early India, compiled between about 200 BCE and 200 CE.
- It was translated into English by William Jones in 1794, and was used by the British in framing Hindu law.
It has been criticised for its views on caste and women; in 1927, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar publicly burnt a copy at Mahad, as a protest against caste discrimination.
Other commentators on the Manusmriti:
- Govindaraja (11th-12th century).
- Kulluka Bhatta (13th-15th century): his commentary, "Manvarthamuktavali", is the most widely used.
Other legal texts:
The Yajnavalkya Smriti, with an important commentary written in the Deccan.
Why not the other options?
- ✗The Arthashastra is a text on statecraft.
- ✗The Ashtadhyayi is Panini's grammar.
- ✗The Yajnavalkya Smriti has other commentaries.
Quick tip
Remember: Medhatithi = oldest surviving commentary on the Manusmriti (Manubhashya); Kulluka Bhatta = Manvarthamuktavali; Manusmriti burnt by Ambedkar at Mahad (1927).
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Books & Authors — Preparation
This question tests your understanding of Books & Authors, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.
This topic covers famous books and their authors, including ancient Indian texts, works of the freedom struggle, classic and modern literature, autobiographies of famous people, and recently published books by well-known personalities. Questions usually name a book and ask for its author, or the other way round. Ancient and historical books, such as Arthashastra (Kautilya), Indica (Megasthenes) and Gitanjali (Rabindranath Tagore), are tested most often. Autobiographies are another favourite, so learn titles such as 'My Experiments with Truth' (Mahatma Gandhi) and 'Wings of Fire' (A. P. J. Abdul Kalam). Practise the books and authors questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.