MPPSC 2024 Prelims Paper-I · Question 66 of 100

Correct — C, Atharvaveda. The Atharvaveda uniquely describes the Sabha and Samiti — the two principal assemblies of later Vedic polity — as 'twin daughters of Prajapati' (the creator), giving them a sanctified, quasi-divine status. This specific framing is not found in the other three Vedas.

• (a)Rigveda — The oldest Veda; it mentions the Sabha and Samiti as institutions in a general sense in places, but the specific 'twin daughters of Prajapati' description is an Atharvaveda formulation, not a Rigvedic one.
• (b)Samaveda — Chiefly a musical adaptation of Rigvedic verses for chanting during the Soma sacrifice — it has no comparable material on Vedic political institutions.
• (d)Yajurveda — A manual of sacrificial formulae (mantras and prose) for performing yajnas — not a source for Sabha-Samiti governance material.

Sabha and Samiti were the two principal political-cum-social assemblies of the later Vedic period, alongside the Rajan (king) and the Vidatha. Samiti was the larger general assembly of the tribe/community, while Sabha was a smaller, more select council, often of elders or nobles. The Atharvaveda eulogises both together as 'twin daughters of Prajapati', reflecting their exalted place in Vedic political thought.

MPPSC/UPSC like testing 'which Veda contains X distinctive material' — the Atharvaveda stands apart from the other three (which are largely liturgical) by carrying social, political, and even magico-medical content, which is why an unusual reference like the divine parentage of Sabha and Samiti sits here rather than in the Rig, Sama, or Yajur.

• The Atharvaveda calls Sabha and Samiti the 'twin daughters of Prajapati' — a description unique to this Veda.
• Samiti was the larger general assembly of the Vedic community; Sabha was a smaller, more select council.
• Along with the Rajan (king) and Vidatha, Sabha and Samiti were the key political institutions of Vedic polity.
• The four Vedas differ in content: hymns of praise (Rig), musical chants (Sama), sacrificial formulae (Yajur), and charms/spells plus social material (Atharva).

• Assuming any 'assembly' reference must be in the Rigveda (the largest, most-cited Veda) — this specific 'twin daughters of Prajapati' framing is an Atharvaveda-specific point.
• Confusing the Vedic Sabha/Samiti with the modern Parliament's Lok Sabha/Rajya Sabha — same names, unrelated institutions separated by millennia.

MPPSC/UPSC frequently ask 'which Veda mentions/contains X' — anchor each distinctive fact (charms and spells, Sabha-Samiti, etc.) to its specific Veda rather than a vague sense of 'Vedic literature'.

• practice — not a real PYQ

  Which of the following Vedas is known for containing an account of magical charms and spells, distinguishing it from the largely liturgical content of the other three Vedas?

  • (a)Rigveda
  • (b)Samaveda
  • (c)Yajurveda
  • (d)Atharvaveda

  Answer(d) Atharvaveda.

• practice — not a real PYQ

  In the later Vedic period, which of the following best describes the difference between the Sabha and the Samiti?

  • (a)Sabha was the larger tribal assembly, Samiti a smaller council of elders
  • (b)Samiti was the larger general assembly, Sabha a smaller, more select council
  • (c)Both were identical bodies with interchangeable functions
  • (d)Sabha dealt only with judicial matters, Samiti only with military matters

  Answer(b) Samiti was the larger general assembly, Sabha a smaller, more select council.