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Which Vedanga (limb of the Vedas) deals with the explanation and etymology (origin and meaning) of difficult Vedic words?
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Answer: Option B — Nirukta
Detailed Solution
"Nirukta" is the Vedanga that deals with etymology, that is, the explanation of the origin and meaning of difficult and obscure words used in the Vedas.
About Nirukta:
- The most important surviving work on Nirukta is the "Nirukta" of the sage Yaska, composed around the 6th or 5th century BCE (before Panini).
- It is a commentary on the "Nighantu", an ancient glossary (list) of difficult Vedic words.
- The Nighantu groups words into synonyms, difficult words and names of deities.
- Yaska explains the meanings of these words and how they are derived from roots.
- He argued that all nouns are derived from verbal roots, an important idea in linguistics.
- He also classified the Vedic gods into three groups: terrestrial, atmospheric and celestial.
Why Nirukta was needed:
- By Yaska's time, the language of the Vedas had become old, and many words were difficult to understand.
- Nirukta helped to preserve the correct meaning of the Vedic hymns.
Importance:
- Yaska's Nirukta is considered one of the earliest works on semantics (meaning) and etymology in the world.
- It is important for the history of linguistics.
Other Vedangas and their subjects:
- Shiksha: phonetics (pronunciation).
- Kalpa: rituals.
- Vyakarana: grammar (most famous work: Panini's Ashtadhyayi).
- Chhandas: metre.
- Jyotisha: astronomy.
Comparison with Vyakarana:
- Vyakarana deals with the rules of word formation and sentence structure.
- Nirukta deals with the meaning and origin of words.
Why not the other options?
- ✗Shiksha deals with pronunciation.
- ✗Chhandas deals with metre.
- ✗Kalpa deals with rituals.
Quick tip
Remember: Nirukta = etymology (meanings of difficult Vedic words); Yaska's Nirukta = commentary on the Nighantu; Shiksha = phonetics; Chhandas = metre; Kalpa = ritual.
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Vedic Period — Preparation
This question tests your understanding of Vedic Period, 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.
The Vedic period followed the arrival of the Indo-Aryans and is divided into the Early (Rig Vedic) and Later Vedic ages. This topic covers the four Vedas, the Brahmanas, Aranyakas and Upanishads, Vedic society, polity, economy and religion, and the rivers and gods mentioned in Vedic texts. Exams often ask which Veda deals with what (the Sama Veda with music, the Atharva Veda with charms and medicine), the most important Rig Vedic god (Indra), and Vedic assemblies such as the Sabha and Samiti. Note how society changed from the Early to the Later Vedic age, especially the rise of the varna system and the growth of kingship. Practise the Vedic period 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.