Q. Sanghabhuti, an Indian Buddhist monk, who travelled to China at the end of the fourth century AD, was the author of a commentary on: (UPSC Prelims 2024)
Answer: Sarvastivada Vinaya
Notes: The correct answer is [C] Sarvastivada Vinaya. Sanghabhuti (also known as Seng-kiao-pu-ti) was a prominent Kashmiri monk who played a vital role in the early transmission of Buddhist texts to China.

• Sarvastivada Vinaya (Statement C – Correct): Sanghabhuti arrived in Chang'an (China) around 381 CE. He was a specialist in the Abhidharma and Vinaya (monastic discipline) of the Sarvastivada school. He is credited with translating and providing commentaries on the Abhidharma-vibhavasha-shastra and the Sarvastivada Vinaya (disciplinary rules). His work laid the foundation for the understanding of Sarvastivadin literature in China before the arrival of Kumarajiva.
• Prajnaparamita Sutra (Statement A – Incorrect): These are a collection of Mahayana texts focusing on the "Perfection of Wisdom." While many Indian monks translated these, they are primarily associated with figures like Kumarajiva and Xuanzang.
• Visuddhimagga (Statement B – Incorrect): This is a classic Theravada Buddhist manual of doctrine and meditation written by Buddhaghosa in Sri Lanka during the 5th century CE. It is written in Pali, whereas Sanghabhuti worked with Sanskrit/Sarvastivada texts.
• Lalitavistara (Statement D – Incorrect): This is a Mahayana Buddhist sutra that provides a hagiography of the Gautama Buddha. While it was translated into Chinese multiple times, it is not the primary work attributed to Sanghabhuti's commentary.

Historical Context: During the 4th and 5th centuries, Kashmir was a major center for the Sarvastivada school. Monks like Sanghabhuti and later Sanghadeva were instrumental in carrying these "Realist" Buddhist philosophies to the Chinese capital, significantly influencing early Chinese Buddhist thought.