MCQ on Buddhism

Buddhist Literature is the Favourite topic of the Ancient Indian History section. In every Government exam like- SSC CGL, RAILWAYS, BANKING and other related exams some questions were asked about this topic. So following we are presenting a practice set of some important questions on Buddhist Literature. It will increase the knowledge of the candidates preparing for the competitive exam.

Que 1. Which of the following texts was not composed by Ashvaghosha?

(a)  Buddhacharita
(b) Saundarananda
(c) Sariputra Prakaran
(d) Abhidharmakosa

Ans. (d) Abhidharmakosa
Explanation – Ashvaghosha is the author of Buddhacharitra, Soundarananda and Sariputra Prakaran. The Abhidharmakosa was composed by Vasubandhu.

Que 2. Which of the following texts was composed by Buddhaghosa?

(a) Sariputra Prakaran
(b) Abhidharmakosa
(c) Buddhacharita
(d) Visuddhimagga

Ans. (d) Visuddhimagga
Explanation – The creator of Visuddhimagga was Buddhaghosa.

Que 3. In which language the book Mahavastu was composed?

(a) Hindi
(b) Sanskrit
(c) Pali
(d) Ardhamagadhi

Ans. (b) Sanskrit
Explanation – A book named Mahavastu was composed in the Sanskrit language. It is a text of the Hinayana sect of Buddhism.

Que 4. In which of the following texts, the life of Mahatma Buddha is described in detail?

(a) Mahavastu
(b) Visuddhimagga
(c) Sariputra Prakaran
(d) Abhidharmakosa

Ans. (a) Mahavastu
Explanation – The Mahavastu Granth describes the life of Mahatma Buddha in detail. It is written in the Sanskrit language. It is related to the Hinayana sect.

Que 5. Which of the following is an Upanishad text?

(a) Visuddhimagga
(b) Sariputra Prakaran 
(c) Abhidharmakosa
(d) Vajrasuchi 

Ans. (d) Vajrasuchi 
Explanation – Vajrasuchi is an Upanishad text. It was composed by Ashvaghosha. In this book, the caste system has been refuted.

Que 6. Which of the following texts is not written in the Sanskrit language?

(a) Visuddhimagga
(b) Sariputra prakaran 
(c) Abhidharmakosa
(d) Abhidhammapitaka

Ans. (d) Abhidhammapitaka
Explanation – Abhidhammapitaka is composed in the Pali language. It is part of the Tripitaka literature of Buddhism.

Que 7. Which of the following texts were written as a commentary on Tripitakas?

(a) Jataka Kathayen
(b) Ahakathā
(c) Deepavansh
(d) Mahavansh

Ans. (b) Ahakathā
Explanation – Aṭṭhakathā was written as a commentary on the Tripitaka.

Que 8. Which of the following texts is a commentary on the Sutta Pitaka?

(a) Maha Aṭṭhak
(b) Kirundi
(c) Mahapachari
(d) Milindapanho

Ans. (a) Maha Aṭṭhak
Explanation – Maha Aṭṭhak is a commentary on the book Sutta Pitaka.

Que 9. Which of the following texts is a commentary on Vinaya Pitaka?

(a) Maha Aṭṭhak
(b) Kirundi
(c) Mahapachari
(d) Milindapanho

Ans. (b) Kirundi
Explanation – There is a commentary on the Kirundi text Vinayapitaka.

Que 10. Which of the following texts is a commentary on the Abhidhammapitaka?

(a) Maha Aṭṭhak
(b) Kirundi
(c) Mahapachari
(d) Milindapanho

Ans. (c) Mahapachari
Explanation – A commentary text on the Abhidhammapitaka is the Mahapachari.

11. Which of the following texts was composed by the Buddhist monk Nagasena?

(a) Abhidharmakosa
(b) Abhidhammapitaka
(c) Milindapanho
(d) Visuddhimagga

Ans. (c) Milindapanho
Explanation – The composition of Milindapanho is the Buddhist monk Nagasena. This book is written in the Pali language. This book describes the conversation between the Greek king Menander and the Buddhist monk Nagasena.

Que 12. Which of the following texts was composed by Vasubandhu?

(a) Abhidharmakosa
(b) Abhidhammapitaka
(c) Milindapanho
(d) Visuddhimagga

Ans. (a) Abhidharmakosa
Explanation – The book Abhidharmakosa was composed by Vasubandhu.

Que 13. Which of the following texts was composed by Buddhaghosa?

(a) Abhidharmakosa
(b) Abhidhammapitaka
(c) Milindapanho
(d) Visuddhimagga

Ans. (d) Visuddhimagga
Explanation – Visuddhimagga was composed by Buddhaghosa. This book is a major text of the Hinayana sect.

Que 14. Which of the following texts is also known as “The Light of Asia”?

(a) Lalit Vistara
(b) Abhidhammapitaka
(c) Milindapanho
(d) Visuddhimagga

Ans. (a) Lalit Vistara
Explanation – Lalit Vistara Granth is also called “The Light of Asia”. This book is written in the Sanskrit language.

Que 15. Which is the first book to describe the life character of Mahatma Buddha?

(a) Lalit Vistara
(b) Abhidhammapitaka
(c) Milindapanho
(d) Buddha Charitam

Ans. (d) Buddha Charitam
Explanation – Buddha Charitam is the first book to describe the life character of Mahatma Buddha. Ashvaghosha composed this text.

Que 16. Which of the following book is called “Encyclopedia of Buddhism”?

(a) Abhidhammapitaka
(b) Milindapanho
(c) Buddha Charitam
(d) Abhidharmakosa

Ans. (d) Abhidharmakosa
Explanation – Abhidharmakosa is called the “encyclopedia of Buddhism”. This book was composed by Vasubandhu.

17. Which text is related to “Mahaparinirvana Sukta”?

(a) Abhidhammapitaka
(b) Milindapanho
(c) Buddha Charitam
(d) Dirgh Nikaya

Ans. (d)  Dirgh Nikaya
Explanation – “Mahaparinirvana Sukta” is related to the Dirgh Nikaya.

Que 18. In which of the following texts the Ashtanga-marga of Buddha is mentioned?

(a) Abhidhammapitaka
(b) Milindapanho
(c) Buddha Charitam
(d) Taittiriya Upanishad

Ans. (d) Taittiriya Upanishad
Explanation – Buddha’s ashtanga-marga is mentioned in the Taittiriya Upanishad. 

Que 19. Which of the following texts describes the songs of monks?

(a) Theragatha
(b) Milindapanho
(c) Buddha Charitam
(d) Taittiriya Upanishad

Ans. (a) Theragatha
Explanation – The songs of Buddhist monks are described in Theragatha.

Que 20. Which of the following texts is called the Gita of Buddhism?

(a) Dhammapada
(b) Theragatha
(c) Abhidhammapitaka
(d) Milindapanho

Ans. (a) Dhammapada
Explanation – The text  Dhammapada is called the Gita of Buddhism.