Answer: Maagadha
Notes: The correct answer is [D] Maagadha. In ancient and early medieval India, the preservation of oral traditions, lineages, and heroic tales was entrusted to specialized groups of bards and chroniclers.
- Maagadha (Statement D – Correct): Along with the Sutas, the Maagadhas were the court bards responsible for memorizing and reciting the chronicles of kings, dynastic histories (Vamshavali), and epic tales (Itihasa-Purana). While Sutas were often associated with the charioteering and personal companionship of kings, Maagadhas typically performed the role of panegyrists and genealogists in the royal courts.
- Shramana (Statement A – Incorrect): This term refers to an ascetic or a "seeker" in the non-Vedic movements, such as Buddhism and Jainism. Shramanas renounced worldly life to pursue spiritual liberation through meditation and austerity.
- Parivraajaka (Statement B – Incorrect): Literally meaning "one who wanders," a Parivraajaka was a wandering religious mendicant or ascetic. They traveled from place to place, often during the non-rainy seasons, to preach and lead a life of detachment.
- Agrahaarika (Statement C – Incorrect): This was an administrative official in charge of an Agrahara (a rent-free village granted to Brahmins). Their role was landed and bureaucratic rather than literary or oral-traditional.
- Historical Evolution: These bardic traditions eventually laid the foundation for the written Puranas. The transition from oral Itihasa (thus it happened) to written texts ensured the survival of the legendary histories of dynasties like the Mauryas and Guptas.
