UPSC CSE Prelims
Ancient Indian Literature Previous Year Questions (PYQs)

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 3 — Sarvastivada Vinaya

Sanghabhuti was a prominent Indian Buddhist monk and scholar of the Sarvastivada school who traveled to China at the end of the fourth century AD. He is particularly renowned for his commentary on the Sarvastivada Vinaya, which deals with monastic rules and discipline of the Sarvastivada tradition. His work was instrumental in transmitting and explaining the Vinaya texts to Chinese Buddhist communities.

Why other options are incorrect:

❌ Option 1 – Prajnaparamita Sutra: These Mahayana sutras focus on the concept of 'emptiness' (sunyata) and are not associated with Sanghabhuti's scholarly work.

❌ Option 2 – Visuddhimagga: This is a comprehensive Theravada Buddhist treatise written by Buddhaghosa in the 5th century, not by Sanghabhuti.

❌ Option 4 – Lalitavistara: This is a Mahayana sutra narrating the life of the Buddha and is not connected to Sanghabhuti's commentarial work.

📝 Short Notes: Sarvastivada School and Vinaya Literature

• Sarvastivada School: One of the major early Buddhist schools (Hinayana tradition) that flourished in northwest India and Central Asia; means "the doctrine that all exists"
• Vinaya Texts: The regulatory framework of monastic discipline in Buddhism, forming one of the three baskets (Tripitaka) of Buddhist scriptures
• Sanghabhuti's Contribution: Traveled to China around 383-395 AD during the Eastern Jin dynasty; translated and wrote commentaries on Sarvastivada Vinaya texts
• Historical Context: Part of the larger movement of Buddhist transmission from India to China during 1st-5th centuries AD
• Three Pitakas: Vinaya Pitaka (monastic rules), Sutta Pitaka (discourses), Abhidhamma Pitaka (philosophical analysis)