Consider the types of land according to the Amarkosha:

Question

Consider the types of land according to the Amarkosha:

a. Urvara — fertile

b. Maru — desert

c. Shadvala — grassy

d. Devmatrika — watered by rain

Which of the following is correct?

1. A. a and b both
2. B. c and d both
3. C. b, c and d
4. D. More than one of the above (Correct answer)

Correct Answer

Option D — More than one of the above

Detailed Solution & Explanation

The correct answer is More than one of the above.

Key Points

• According to the ancient Sanskrit lexicon Amarakosha (by Amarasimha), land was classified into several types, and all four descriptions given are correct: (a) Urvara — fertile land; (b) Maru — desert land; (c) Shadvala — grassy land; and (d) Devamatrika — land watered/dependent on rain.
• Since more than one (in fact all) of the statements a, b, c and d correctly describe the land types in the Amarakosha, the right choice is (D) More than one of the above.

Additional Information

• such classifications show the advanced understanding of agriculture and land use in ancient India, distinguishing fertile, barren, grassy and rain-fed lands.