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Q58 (IAS/2024) History & Culture › Culture, Literature, Religion & Philosophy › Vedic and Hindu religious traditions Official Key

Consider the following statements : 1. There are no parables in Upanishads. 2. Upanishads were composed earlier than the Puranas. Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

Result
Your answer: —  ·  Correct: B
Explanation

The correct answer is option B (Statement 2 only).

**Statement 1 is incorrect.** While the provided sources do not explicitly discuss parables in the Upanishads, this statement cannot be verified as correct from the given documents. The Upanishads are known to contain various literary forms including dialogues, stories, and teachings, and claiming there are "no parables" is too absolute to be accurate.

**Statement 2 is correct.** The Chhandogya Upanishad was composed around the sixth century BCE[1], while the Puranas were compiled by Brahmanas by about the middle of the first millennium CE[2]. This clearly indicates that the Upanishads preceded the Puranas by several centuries. Additionally, the Upanishads are classified as Late Vedic texts attached to the Vedas[3], placing them in an earlier historical period than the Puranas, which represent a later stage in Hindu religious literature.

Therefore, only statement 2 is correct, making option B the right answer.

Sources
  1. [1] THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART I, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 4: Thinkers, Beliefs and Buildings > Verses from the Upanishads > p. 85
  2. [2] THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART I, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 4: Thinkers, Beliefs and Buildings > 10.2 The growth of Puranic Hinduism > p. 105
  3. [3] History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 2: Early India: The Chalcolithic, Megalithic, Iron Age and Vedic Cultures > Literature of the Vedic Age > p. 18
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PROVENANCE & STUDY PATTERN
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Don’t just practise – reverse-engineer the question. This panel shows where this PYQ came from (books / web), how the examiner broke it into hidden statements, and which nearby micro-concepts you were supposed to learn from it. Treat it like an autopsy of the question: what might have triggered it, which exact lines in the book matter, and what linked ideas you should carry forward to future questions.
Q. Consider the following statements : 1. There are no parables in Upanishads. 2. Upanishads were composed earlier than the Puranas. Whic…
At a glance
Origin: Mixed / unclear origin Fairness: Moderate fairness Books / CA: 5/10 · 0/10

This is a classic 'Nature vs. Chronology' question. Statement 1 is an 'Extreme Absolute' trap (claiming 'no' examples exist in a vast corpus), while Statement 2 is a fundamental timeline fact found in every basic history textbook. The strategy is to trust the standard evolution of Indian literature: Vedas → Upanishads → Puranas.

How this question is built

This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.

Statement 1
In Hindu scriptures, do the Upanishads contain parables or allegorical stories?
Origin: Weak / unclear Fairness: Borderline / guessy
Indirect textbook clues
History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 2: Early India: The Chalcolithic, Megalithic, Iron Age and Vedic Cultures > Literature of the Vedic Age > p. 18
Strength: 4/5
“The Rig Veda contains 10 books. Books 2 to 7 are the earliest and the Books 1, 8, 9 and 10 are assigned to a later period. Samhitas are ritualistic texts, and they explain the social and religious importance of rituals. Each samhita has added texts called brahmanas, which have commentaries on the hymns and rituals. Each brahmana has an aranyaka (forest text) and an upanishad. The aranyakas contain mystical ritual instructions to be undertaken in secret by the sages who live in the forests. Upanishads deal with philosophical enquiries. The Yajur, Sama and Atharva Vedas are dated to a slightly later period.”
Why relevant

States that each brahmana has an aranyaka and an upanishad and that Upanishads deal with philosophical enquiries, implying a genre focus distinct from ritual manuals.

How to extend

A student could use this rule to expect primarily philosophical material in Upanishads and then check whether philosophical texts commonly use parables to teach abstract ideas.

THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART I, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 4: Thinkers, Beliefs and Buildings > Verses from the Upanishads > p. 85
Strength: 4/5
“Here are two verses from the Chhandogya Upanishad, a text composed in Sanskrit c. sixth century BCE:”
Why relevant

Specifically cites verses from the Chhandogya Upanishad, indicating the Upanishads contain extended passages (verses) that can carry illustrative material.

How to extend

Look up the Chhandogya Upanishad text (or examples of its verses) to see if any verses take the form of stories or illustrative episodes.

THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART I, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 3: Kinship, Caste and Class > Metronymics in the Upanishads > p. 59
Strength: 4/5
“The Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, one of the earliest Upanishads (see also Chapter 4), contains a list of successive generations of teachers and students, many of whom were designated by metronymics.”
Why relevant

Notes that the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad contains a list of successive generations of teachers and students — an example of narrative or biographical content within an Upanishad.

How to extend

Investigate the Brihadaranyaka for other narrative segments (teacher-student dialogues or illustrative episodes) that function like parables.

THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART I, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 4: Thinkers, Beliefs and Buildings > 10.2 The growth of Puranic Hinduism > p. 105
Strength: 3/5
“have to be familiar with the stories behind them – many of which are contained in the Puranas, compiled by Brahmanas (by about the middle of the first millennium CE). They contained much that had been composed and been in circulation for centuries, including stories about gods and goddesses. Generally, they were written in simple Sanskrit verse, and were meant to be read aloud to everybody, including women and Shudras, who did not have access to Vedic learning. Much of what is contained in the Puranas evolved through interaction amongst people – priests, merchants, and ordinary men and women who travelled from place to place sharing ideas and beliefs.”
Why relevant

Describes Puranas as collections that 'contain stories about gods and goddesses' and were written to be read aloud, establishing that other Hindu genres explicitly preserve narrative material.

How to extend

Use the clear contrast with Puranic storytelling to test whether Upanishads—by comparison—contain fewer or different kinds of stories (e.g., allegories vs. popular myths).

THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART I, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 4: Thinkers, Beliefs and Buildings > 2.2 New questions > p. 84
Strength: 3/5
“Many ideas found in the Upanishads (c. sixth century BCE onwards) show that people were curious about the meaning of life, the possibility of life after death,”
Why relevant

Says Upanishads show people curious about meanings like life and afterlife, suggesting the texts address abstract ideas that can be taught via allegory or parable.

How to extend

Given their philosophical aims, a student can examine whether philosophical instruction in other traditions uses parables and so whether Upanishads might likewise employ them.

Statement 2
In Hindu literature, were the Upanishads composed earlier than the Puranas?
Origin: Direct from books Fairness: Straightforward Book-answerable
From standard books
THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART I, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 4: Thinkers, Beliefs and Buildings > Verses from the Upanishads > p. 85
Presence: 5/5
“Here are two verses from the Chhandogya Upanishad, a text composed in Sanskrit c. sixth century BCE:”
Why this source?
  • Provides a date for the Chhandogya Upanishad: composed c. 6th century BCE.
  • Directly places at least one Upanishad several centuries before the Common Era.
THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART I, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 4: Thinkers, Beliefs and Buildings > 10.2 The growth of Puranic Hinduism > p. 105
Presence: 5/5
“have to be familiar with the stories behind them – many of which are contained in the Puranas, compiled by Brahmanas (by about the middle of the first millennium CE). They contained much that had been composed and been in circulation for centuries, including stories about gods and goddesses. Generally, they were written in simple Sanskrit verse, and were meant to be read aloud to everybody, including women and Shudras, who did not have access to Vedic learning. Much of what is contained in the Puranas evolved through interaction amongst people – priests, merchants, and ordinary men and women who travelled from place to place sharing ideas and beliefs.”
Why this source?
  • States the Puranas were compiled by Brahmanas by about the middle of the first millennium CE.
  • Places Puranic compilation many centuries after the 6th century BCE date given for an Upanishad.
History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 2: Early India: The Chalcolithic, Megalithic, Iron Age and Vedic Cultures > Literature of the Vedic Age > p. 18
Presence: 4/5
“The samhitas of the Sama, Yajur and Atharva Vedas, and the brahmanas, aranyakas and upanishads attached to the Vedas are the Late Vedic texts. The Sama Veda was composed in musical notes. The Yajur Veda has rituals and hymns. The Atharva Veda contains charms and magical spells.”
Why this source?
  • Classifies the Upanishads as Late Vedic texts attached to the Vedas (Vedanta).
  • Situates Upanishads within the earlier Vedic literary period, implying they predate later Puranic compilations.
Pattern takeaway: UPSC consistently tests the 'Evolution' of culture rather than isolated facts. They love contrasting the Vedic Age with the Puranic/Gupta Age. Also, absolute negative statements about art/culture ('There are no...') are 99% false.
How you should have studied
  1. [THE VERDICT]: Sitter. Statement 2 is basic chronology (Class XI/XII History). Statement 1 is easily eliminated if you recall even one story like Satyakama Jabala or Nachiketa.
  2. [THE CONCEPTUAL TRIGGER]: Evolution of Indian Religious Literature: The shift from Vedic Rituals (Samhitas) to Philosophy (Upanishads) to Sectarian Mythology (Puranas).
  3. [THE HORIZONTAL EXPANSION]: Memorize the 'Big 3' Upanishadic stories in NCERT: 1) Satyakama Jabala (Chandogya - Truth/Caste), 2) Yajnavalkya & Maitreyi (Brihadaranyaka - Immortality), 3) Two Birds (Mundaka/Svetasvatara - Soul). Also, 'Satyameva Jayate' comes from Mundaka.
  4. [THE STRATEGIC METACOGNITION]: When studying ancient texts, categorize them by 'Genre' and 'Era'. Upanishads = Dialogues/Philosophy (c. 600 BCE). Puranas = Myths/Genealogies (Gupta Era, c. 300-600 CE). Knowing the genre helps you guess the content (e.g., Philosophy uses allegories).
Concept hooks from this question
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 Upanishads as philosophical enquiries
💡 The insight

The Upanishads are texts that focus on philosophical questions such as the meaning of life and the nature of the Self (ātman) and Brahman.

High-yield for questions on Hindu thought and Vedanta; helps distinguish doctrinal content from narrative literature and connects to debates on moksha, ātman and brahman in modern interpretations and reform movements.

📚 Reading List :
  • History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 2: Early India: The Chalcolithic, Megalithic, Iron Age and Vedic Cultures > Literature of the Vedic Age > p. 18
  • THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART I, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 4: Thinkers, Beliefs and Buildings > 2.2 New questions > p. 84
  • Exploring Society:India and Beyond. Social Science-Class VI . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 7: India's Cultural Roots > c. Vedic schools of thought > p. 110
🔗 Anchor: "In Hindu scriptures, do the Upanishads contain parables or allegorical stories?"
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 Puranas and epics as the primary narrative sources
💡 The insight

The Puranas and epics (like the Rāmāyaṇa and Mahābhārata) are explicitly described as containing stories about gods, goddesses and moral values intended for wide audiences.

Essential for classifying literary genres in Hindu tradition; helps answer questions that ask which texts contain myths, parables or accessible narratives versus which are philosophical or ritualistic.

📚 Reading List :
  • THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART I, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 4: Thinkers, Beliefs and Buildings > 10.2 The growth of Puranic Hinduism > p. 105
  • Exploring Society:India and Beyond. Social Science-Class VI . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 8: Unity in Diversity, or 'Many in the One' > An Epic Spread > p. 133
🔗 Anchor: "In Hindu scriptures, do the Upanishads contain parables or allegorical stories?"
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 Genre structure in Vedic literature (samhita, brahmana, aranyaka, upanishad)
💡 The insight

Vedic collections are organized into ritual hymns (samhitas), commentaries (brahmanas), forest texts (aranyakas) and Upanishads, each with distinct functions—ritual, mystical instruction, or philosophical enquiry.

Useful for source-based and comparative questions on religious texts and their purposes; enables quick elimination in MCQs and supports essay answers distinguishing ritual, mystical and philosophical literature.

📚 Reading List :
  • History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 2: Early India: The Chalcolithic, Megalithic, Iron Age and Vedic Cultures > Literature of the Vedic Age > p. 18
  • THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART I, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 3: Kinship, Caste and Class > 6.1 Language and content > p. 73
🔗 Anchor: "In Hindu scriptures, do the Upanishads contain parables or allegorical stories?"
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 Relative chronology of Upanishads and Puranas
💡 The insight

Upanishads are dated to the Late Vedic period (e.g., c. 6th century BCE) while Puranas were compiled around the middle of the first millennium CE.

High-yield for chronology questions: mastering this helps place philosophical (Vedic/Upanishadic) developments before the later Puranic compilation and popularisation. It links to topics on the evolution of Hindu religious literature and aids in answering timeline and cause-effect questions about cultural change.

📚 Reading List :
  • THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART I, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 4: Thinkers, Beliefs and Buildings > Verses from the Upanishads > p. 85
  • THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART I, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 4: Thinkers, Beliefs and Buildings > 10.2 The growth of Puranic Hinduism > p. 105
  • History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 2: Early India: The Chalcolithic, Megalithic, Iron Age and Vedic Cultures > Literature of the Vedic Age > p. 18
🔗 Anchor: "In Hindu literature, were the Upanishads composed earlier than the Puranas?"
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 Upanishads as Vedanta / Late Vedic literature
💡 The insight

Upanishads are described as the concluding (Vedanta) portion of Vedic texts and part of the Late Vedic corpus.

Essential for questions distinguishing categories of Vedic literature (samhitas, brahmanas, aranyakas, upanishads). Helps explain shifts from ritual to philosophical emphasis and is useful for comparative questions on textual roles and content.

📚 Reading List :
  • History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 2: Early India: The Chalcolithic, Megalithic, Iron Age and Vedic Cultures > Philosophy and Education > p. 30
  • History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 2: Early India: The Chalcolithic, Megalithic, Iron Age and Vedic Cultures > Literature of the Vedic Age > p. 18
  • History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 2: Early India: The Chalcolithic, Megalithic, Iron Age and Vedic Cultures > The Late Vedic Texts > p. 26
🔗 Anchor: "In Hindu literature, were the Upanishads composed earlier than the Puranas?"
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 Puranas: oral circulation and later compilation
💡 The insight

Puranas were formed from stories that circulated for centuries and were compiled/reworked by Brahmanas into present forms by mid-first millennium CE.

Important for understanding processes of textual compilation, vernacularisation, and the role of Brahmanical adaptation. Useful for essays and prelims/GS questions on the social transmission of religious narratives and the institutionalisation of belief systems.

📚 Reading List :
  • THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART I, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 4: Thinkers, Beliefs and Buildings > 10.2 The growth of Puranic Hinduism > p. 105
  • History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 7: The Guptas > Puranas and Ithihasas > p. 99
🔗 Anchor: "In Hindu literature, were the Upanishads composed earlier than the Puranas?"
🌑 The Hidden Trap

Since they asked about Upanishad content, the next logical question is specific dialogues found in NCERT. Expect a match-the-following: Gargi-Yajnavalkya debate (Brihadaranyaka) or the story of the 'Poor Beggar and the two Saunaka rishis' (Chandogya).

⚡ Elimination Cheat Code

Apply the 'Burden of Proof' logic. To prove Statement 1 ('There are no parables'), you would need to read every single line of 108+ Upanishads and confirm zero stories exist. To prove it wrong, you only need one example (like the story of Nachiketa). In Humanities/Culture, absolute negatives are statistically impossible to defend.

🔗 Mains Connection

Connect this to GS-1 Mains (Indian Society/Culture): The transition from Upanishads to Puranas marks the shift from 'Gyan Marg' (Knowledge/Abstract) to 'Bhakti Marg' (Devotion/Personal Deities), making religion accessible to the masses (women/Shudras), a key theme in the democratization of Hinduism.

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