Q. The Chinese traveller Yuan Chwang (Hiuen Tsang) who visited India recorded the general conditions and culture of India at that time. In this context, which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. The roads and river-routes were completely immune from robbery.
2. As regards punishment for offences, ordeals by fire, water and poison were the instruments for determining the innocence or guilt of a person.
3. The tradesmen had to pay duties at ferries and barrier stations.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below. (UPSC Prelims 2013)
Answer: 2 and 3 only
Notes: The correct answer is [B] 2 and 3 only. Yuan Chwang (Hiuen Tsang), the celebrated Chinese Buddhist monk, visited India during the reign of King Harshavardhana (606–647 AD). His detailed travelogue, Si-Yu-Ki, provides a vivid account of the social, political, and economic conditions of 7th-century India.

• Safety of Routes (Statement 1 is Incorrect): Unlike his predecessor Fa-Hien, who found the roads safe during the Gupta era, Yuan Chwang faced significant security issues. He recorded that roads and river-routes were not immune from robbery. In fact, he himself was stripped and robbed by bandits on more than one occasion during his travels across the Indian subcontinent.
• Judicial System and Ordeals (Statement 2 is Correct): Yuan Chwang observed that the administration of justice was quite strict. For determining the innocence or guilt of an accused person, ordeals by fire, water, and poison were commonly used. He noted that these "divine" tests were believed to be infallible; for instance, if a person remained unharmed after being thrown into water or touching hot iron, they were declared innocent.
• Trade and Taxation (Statement 3 is Correct): The economic life was well-regulated. He mentioned that the government derived income from various sources, and tradesmen had to pay light duties at ferries and barrier stations (checkpoints). This indicates a structured system of internal trade and revenue collection during Harsha's reign.