Read the following passage carefully and answer the question given below:
By the first century AD, many nomadic tribes had entered India through the mountain-passes in the north west. In the course of time, they were all Indianised. Kanishka, the chief of one of these tribes, built up an empire with Peshawar as the capital. Like Asoka, Kanishka came under the influence of Buddhism and was converted by a celebrated Buddhist scholar Asvaghosha. Kanishka appears to have tried to emulate Asoka. He strenuously worked for the spread of the Buddhist faith. He convened a Buddhist council to discuss grave religious problems. At the time, a big schism had arisen and the Buddhists were divided into two sects-the Hinayana and Mahayana. Of the two, the Mahayana became more popular. The Hinayanists believed in the traditional intellectual doctrine whereas the Mahayanists adopted new interpretations. The Mahayanists started worshipping Buddha as the living saviour and their ritualism had a strong appeal to the ordinary people. Nagarjuna, a great scholar in the court of Kanishka, formulated and propagated the Mahayana ideas. The differences between the two sects were largely reconciled in this council. Charaka, the most celebrated medical scientist of ancient India, is believed to have been Kanishka's court-physician. The Kushan empire built by Kanishka was dissolved by the third century AD.
Which of the following statements is NOT true in the context of the passage?
(A) Hinayanists countered the traditional ideas of Buddhism
(B) Asvaghosha was a scholar
(C) Kanishka was a patron of Buddhism
(D) Kushan empire was built by Kanishka
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → (A) Only
The question asks for the statement that is not true. Each statement checked against the passage:
(A) Hinayanists countered the traditional ideas of Buddhism — False.
- Contradicted: the Hinayanists "believed in the traditional intellectual doctrine".
- It was the Mahayanists who adopted new interpretations.
- To counter is to oppose or argue against.
- Example: The minister countered the charges with fresh figures.
(B) Asvaghosha was a scholar — True.
- He is called "a celebrated Buddhist scholar".
(C) Kanishka was a patron of Buddhism — True.
- A patron is a person who supports a cause, an art or a religion.
- Kanishka "strenuously worked for the spread of the Buddhist faith" and convened a Buddhist council.
- Example: The king was a great patron of music and painting.
(D) Kushan empire was built by Kanishka — True.
- The passage speaks of "the Kushan empire built by Kanishka".
Tip: In this question the options do not follow the order of the statements (Option 1 = (C) Only, Option 2 = (B) Only, Option 3 = (A) Only, Option 4 = (D) Only). NTA often jumbles the options in this way, so after finding the correct statement, read the options carefully and mark the one with the right letter.