Question:medium

According to Hsüan-tsang's impressions of Indian education, which of the following is not included in the five vidyās, which the young were instructed after arrving at the age of seven years and upwards?

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The Pañca-vidyā (five sciences) is a frequently tested topic. Memorize the five fields: Grammar (\textit{Śabda}), Arts/Crafts (\textit{Śilpa}), Medicine (\textit{Cikitsā}), Logic (\textit{Hetu}), and Philosophy/Spirituality (\textit{Adhyātma}). Understanding the meaning of the Sanskrit terms can help you spot the incorrect option.
Updated On: Jan 16, 2026
  • Śabdavidyā
  • Śilpasthana vidyā
  • Ahetuvidyā
  • Adhyātmavidyā
Show Solution

The Correct Option is C

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The question relates to the accounts of the Chinese Buddhist monk and traveler Xuanzang (Hsüan-tsang), who visited India in the 7th century CE. It requires identifying which of the provided options is NOT among the "five sciences" or "five vidyās" that constituted the curriculum of Indian education during that period.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Xuanzang documented the Indian educational system, which was structured around the mastery of five broad knowledge domains, known as the Pañca-vidyā. These five fields were:
1. Śabda-vidyā: The science of sound/words, encompassing grammar and lexicography. This corresponds to option (1).
2. Śilpasthāna-vidyā: The science of arts, crafts, mechanics, and architecture. This corresponds to option (2).
3. Cikitsā-vidyā: The science of medicine.
4. Hetu-vidyā: The science of cause/reasoning, including logic and epistemology.
5. Adhyātma-vidyā: The 'inner science', covering philosophy, metaphysics, and spiritual knowledge. This corresponds to option (4).

Now, let's examine the option that is absent from this list:
3. Ahetuvidyā: The Sanskrit prefix 'a-' signifies negation, meaning 'not' or 'without'. Consequently, \textit{Ahetu} translates to 'without a valid reason' or 'fallacy'. Ahetuvidyā would thus denote the 'science of illogical reasoning' or 'sophistry'. This stands in direct opposition to Hetu-vidyā (the science of logic) and was definitively not part of the formal curriculum.

Step 3: Final Answer:
Ahetuvidyā is not enumerated among the five vidyās detailed by Xuanzang. Therefore, option (3) represents the correct answer.

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