RAS question
The Upanishads are philosophical texts that form the concluding part of the Vedas and are also known as:
Correct answer: (A) Vedanta.
The Upanishads are known as Vedanta because they form the concluding part of the Vedas.
Explanation
The answer is Vedanta because the term literally points to the end or conclusion of the Vedas. Britannica explains that Vedanta means the conclusion of the Vedas and applies to the Upanishads as well as to the philosophical school that grew from their study. This matches the standard exam idea: the Upanishads are the final portion of Vedic literature, and their subject matter shifts towards philosophical questions around Brahman, Atman and Moksha. The traditional count is 108 Upanishads, with 13 treated as principal or Mukhya Upanishads. So the label Vedanta is not a separate random title; it is tied to both the position of the Upanishads within Vedic literature and their philosophical focus.
Why the other options are wrong
- (B) Brahmana is wrong because Vedanta, not Brahmana, is the term connected with the conclusion of the Vedas and the Upanishads.
- (C) Aranyaka is wrong because the question asks for the name of the concluding philosophical part of the Vedas, and that label is Vedanta.
- (D) Vedanga is wrong because it is not used for the Upanishads; the Upanishads are linked with Vedanta, meaning the conclusion of the Vedas.
Concept
This tests the Ancient Indian History concept of Vedic literature and the place of the Upanishads within it. It recurs in RAS because exam questions often check whether candidates can distinguish major Vedic textual categories from the philosophical label Vedanta.