UPSC Prelims 2024·GS1·history·ancient history

Sanghabhuti, an Indian Buddhist monk, who travelled to China at the end of the fourth century AD, was the author of a commentary on:

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Last updated 23 May 2026, 3:31 pm IST
  1. APrajnaparamita Sutra
  2. BVisuddhimagga
  3. CSarvastivada VinayaCorrect
  4. DLalitavistara

Explanation

The correct answer is **C) Sarvastivada Vinaya**. Sanghabhuti (or Saṃghabhūti) was an Indian Sarvastivada monk who traveled to China in the late 4th century CE. He was particularly known for his knowledge of the **Sarvastivada Vinaya** (the monastic discipline code of the Sarvastivada school of Buddhism). He translated and authored commentaries on parts of the Vinaya texts into Chinese, which was significant for the development of monastic traditions in China. He arrived in Chang'an in 381 AD and helped in the translation of the 'Abhidharmavibhasa Sastra' and composed a commentary on the Sarvastivada Vinaya. * **Prajnaparamita Sutra:** A genre of Mahayana Buddhist sutras concerning the perfection of wisdom. Many commentaries exist, but not primarily by Sanghabhuti in this specific context. * **Visuddhimagga:** A Theravada Buddhist text, a comprehensive summary of Theravada doctrine and meditation, written by Buddhaghosa in the 5th century CE, much later than Sanghabhuti. * **Lalitavistara:** A Mahayana Buddhist text that narrates the life of Gautama Buddha. While important, it's not the primary text Sanghabhuti commented on. Therefore, Sarvastivada Vinaya is the correct answer.
history: Sanghabhuti, an Indian Buddhist monk, who travelled to China at the end of the fourth century AD, was the author of a co

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