RAS question
In the Agnikund origin story and the Dasharaj episode, which sage is linked with distinct roles in both accounts?
Correct answer: (A) Rishi Vashistha.
Rishi Vashistha is the sage linked with both the Agnikund origin story and the Dasharaj episode, though in different roles.
Explanation
Rishi Vashistha fits both clues. In the Agnikund tradition, Vashistha stands at Abu's fire altar, where his tapas brings forth four Rajput warriors to protect the sacrifice; the Paramara account likewise links Vashistha, Mount Abu and a hero produced from a sacrificial fire pit. In the Dasharaj episode, Vashistha is on Suda's side, and the Vahika account says Sudas was supported by Vasishtha while Viswamitra sided with the ten-tribe confederation. The shared link is the same sage across two separate narrative settings, not the author of the later Rajput-origin tradition or another priestly figure from a different episode.
Why the other options are wrong
- (B) Vishwamitra is tied to the opposing organisation in the Dasharaj episode, while the Agnikund tradition points to Vashistha's fire-altar role.
- (C) Gautam Rahugan belongs to the separate account of Videha Madhav's eastward movement, not to either the Agnikund origin tradition or Suda's side in Dasharaj.
- (D) Chand Bardai is linked with presenting the Agnikund view in Prithviraj Raso, but he is not the sage who appears across both accounts.
Concept
This tests cross-linking of early Rajasthan-origin traditions with Vedic references, a recurring RAS history theme because names such as Vashistha and Vishwamitra appear in different roles across source traditions. It also checks whether the aspirant can separate a narrative participant from a later literary presenter.