Q. Consider the following observations with respect to the ancient literature of India:

1. Prakrit language spread from India to Central Asia where some of the oldest manuscripts have been found.
2. Rig Veda is usually treated as an early Vedic literature.
3. Mahabharata was originally called 'Jaya Samhita'.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer: 1, 2 & 3
Notes: All the statements are correct. Some of the oldest literature in the Prakrit language are found from the Central Asia dating to 4th century CE. Rig Veda is usually assigned to the Early Vedic Period (1500-1000 BC) and rest of the Vedic Corpus is assigned to the later Vedic Period (1000-500 BC). Mahabharata was originally called ‘Jaya Samhita’ and contained only 8800 verses. Later, it was expanded into 24000 verses and came to be known as ‘Bharata’. At last, it fully developed into 100000 verses and came to be known as the ‘Mahabharata’ or ‘Satasahasri Samhita’.