Which of the following pairs of ancient and modern names of rivers is/are correctly matched ? 1. Vitasta : Chenab 2. Asikni : Jhelum 3. Parushni : Ravi 4. Yavyavati : Beas Select the answer using the code given below :

The correct answer is Option C (3 only), as only the third pair is correctly matched based on the geographical and historical records of Vedic texts, particularly the Rigveda.

Why the correct option is correct:

• Pair 3 (Parushni : Ravi) is correct: In ancient Vedic literature, the Ravi River was known as Parushni (and later as Iravati). It holds significant historical importance as the site of the legendary Battle of the Ten Kings (Dasarajna), documented in Mandala 7 of the Rigveda.

Why the incorrect options are wrong:

• Pair 1 (Vitasta : Chenab) is incorrect: Vitasta is the ancient Rigvedic name for the Jhelum River, not the Chenab. The Greeks later referred to the Jhelum as the Hydaspes, notably the site of Alexander the Great's battle against King Porus in 326 BCE.
• Pair 2 (Asikni : Jhelum) is incorrect: Asikni, meaning "dark waters," is the ancient name for the Chenab River, not the Jhelum. It is formed by the confluence of the Chandra and Bhaga streams in modern Himachal Pradesh.
• Pair 4 (Yavyavati : Beas) is incorrect: The ancient name for the Beas River is Vipasha (or Vipas). Yavyavati is an entirely different ancient river mentioned in the Rigveda (RV 6.27.6), which modern scholars like Michael Witzel widely identify with the Zhob River in present-day Balochistan, Pakistan, or the Hariyupiya.

Takeaway / Mnemonic: To remember the primary Sapta Sindhu river matches, use the mnemonic V-J A-C P-R V-B S-S: Vitasta-Jhelum, Asikni-Chenab, Parushni-Ravi, Vipasha-Beas, and Shutudri-Sutlej.