मुख्य सामग्री पर जाएं
REET Level 2 · Social Studies

Vedic Age — REET Notes (Social Studies)

इसे हिंदी में पढ़ें →

The Vedic Age is the foundation of Indian history — this is where the four Vedas, the varna system, and India's earliest political institutions (Sabha-Samiti) begin. REET asks detailed, fact-based questions about the content of the Vedas, the ancient names of rivers, and the differences between Rigvedic and Later Vedic society.

  • 2 questions in REET 2024
  • Class 6 level
  • 10 min read
Verified 17 September 2026 · Source: NCERT Class 6 Social Science — Chapter 7: India's Cultural Roots

How REET asks this topic

Both REET 2024 questions on this topic were fine-grained — one asked on which river's bank the 'Battle of the Ten Kings' (Dasharajna war) was fought (Parushni/Ravi), with other ancient Vedic river names (Shutudri, Vipasha, Vitasta) placed as misleading options. The other asked which Veda contains the famous hymn 'Ekam Sad Vipra Bahudha Vadanti'. In other words, knowing 'what the four Vedas are called' isn't enough here — you also need to know specific hymns, events, and the ancient names of Vedic rivers precisely.

The Four Vedas — Content at a Glance

Rigveda
The oldest Veda; hymns (mantras) in praise of deities, divided into 10 mandalas and about 1,028 hymns (suktas). Mandalas 2–7 are considered the oldest (family/clan mandalas), while Mandalas 1, 8, 9 and 10 were added later.
Samaveda
Compiles the Rigveda's own mantras in a musical, chantable form (sama-gana); considered the root source of Indian classical music.
Yajurveda
Ritual formulae and procedures used in sacrifices (yajnas), in both prose and verse; it has two branches — Shukla (White) Yajurveda and Krishna (Black) Yajurveda.
Atharvaveda
The last Veda to be composed; it compiles mantras related to charms, magic, disease-cures and folk beliefs — offering a glimpse into ordinary everyday life.
Ekam Sad Vipra Bahudha Vadanti
A famous hymn from the first mandala of the Rigveda — 'Truth is one, the wise call it by many names'; an example of monotheistic thought in Vedic philosophy.

Rigvedic (Early Vedic) vs Later Vedic Age

Rigvedic Age (c. 1500–1000 BCE)

EconomyMainly pastoral (cattle were a measure of wealth)

MetalCopper (Ayas)

Political institutionSabha and Samiti influential, king was head of the clan

Varna systemLoose, occupation-based, not rigidly binding

Status of womenRelatively better; took part in the Sabha, learned women like Gargi and Maitreyi

Main regionSapta Sindhu (Punjab region)

Later Vedic Age (c. 1000–600 BCE)

EconomySettled agriculture dominant, use of iron tools

MetalIron (Shyama Ayas / Krishna Ayas)

Political institutionSabha-Samiti lost importance, kingship became hereditary and more powerful

Varna systemBecame rigid; clear division into Brahmin-Kshatriya-Vaishya-Shudra

Status of womenStatus declined; withdrawn further from public life

Main regionKuru-Panchala (Ganga-Yamuna doab)

This comparison is the basis for REET's 'match the statements' style of questions.

Sabha, Samiti and Vedic Political Institutions

Rigvedic society was tribal (a jana), and the king (rajan) needed the backing of two key institutions — the Sabha and the Samiti — to govern. The Sabha was a smaller council of senior, experienced members that handled justice and advice, while the Samiti was the broader assembly of the whole tribe, which took part in electing the king and in major decisions. An even older institution, the Vidatha, is believed to have been a wide-ranging tribal assembly where religious, social and economic matters of all kinds were discussed.

Kingship in this period was not fully hereditary — it depended on the clan's acceptance. The purohita (for religious duties) and the senani (who led the army) were the king's chief assistants, but a permanent, organised administrative structure or a regular system of taxation had not yet developed in this period.

The Sapta Sindhu and the Battle of the Ten Kings

The region where the Rigvedic Aryans settled is called 'Sapta Sindhu' (land of seven rivers) — the Sindhu (Indus), Vitasta (Jhelum), Asikni (Chenab), Parushni (Ravi), Vipasha (Beas), Shutudri (Sutlej), and Sarasvati (which dried up over time; its ancient course is believed to have run through the Rajasthan-Haryana region).

The 'Dasharajna' (Battle of the Ten Kings), described in the seventh mandala of the Rigveda, was fought on the banks of the Parushni (Ravi) river in this very region. King Sudas of the Bharata tribe faced a confederacy of ten other tribes; the battle is described in hymns composed by the sage Vashistha, and Sudas emerged victorious. This event shows that conflicts over water sources and land between tribes were common in this period.

Religious-Philosophical Texts of the Later Vedic Age

Brahmana texts
Prose texts that explain the procedure of sacrifices and their underlying ritual meaning.
Aranyakas
Texts composed for contemplation in the forest; a transition point from ritual toward philosophical thought.
Upanishads
Also called Vedanta; centred on philosophical subjects like the soul (atman), the absolute (brahman) and rebirth, such as the Chandogya and Brihadaranyaka Upanishads.
Important sacrifices
The Ashvamedha, Rajasuya and Vajapeya sacrifices were performed by kings in the Later Vedic Age to display their power and dominance.
Archaeological clues
The Later Vedic Age is associated with the Painted Grey Ware culture, found in the Kuru-Panchala region.

How to teach this to children

Classroom activity (Class 6)

Have students mark the seven rivers of the Sapta Sindhu on a map of India with both their ancient and modern names — this makes remembering river names easier.

Teaching aid

A simple chart of the four Vedas' names and main content, with one identifying image next to each Veda (for example, a yajna for the Yajurveda).

Common misconception

Children often think the varna system was rigid and birth-based right from the start — whereas in the Rigvedic Age it was occupation-based and flexible; the rigidity increased in the Later Vedic Age.

Assessment idea

Play a 'Rigvedic or Later Vedic?' game — the teacher names a feature (like 'use of iron') and children point to the correct period.

Trick to remember / exam tip

Remember the Sapta Sindhu rivers in order from west to east — Sindhu, Vitasta (Jhelum), Asikni (Chenab), Parushni (Ravi), Vipasha (Beas), Shutudri (Sutlej). Word-cue: 'Sin-Vi-A-Pa-Vi-Sh' — in this order the Jhelum is in the west and the Sutlej is furthest east, so the Parushni (Ravi) of the Battle of the Ten Kings falls in the middle — this is the mix-up REET tests most often.

REET 2024 Questions (with solutions)

Question 122

On the banks of which river the “Dashragya battle” was fought during the Rigvedic times ?

  1. Aशतुद्री
  2. Bविपाशा
  3. Cवितस्ता
  4. Dपरुष्णी

Explanation

ऋग्वेद के सातवें मण्डल में वर्णित 'दाशराज्ञ युद्ध' (दस राजाओं का युद्ध) भरत कबीले के राजा सुदास और दस राजाओं के संघ के बीच परुष्णी नदी (आधुनिक रावी) के तट पर लड़ा गया, जिसमें सुदास विजयी हुए। शतुद्री सतलुज, विपाशा व्यास और वितस्ता झेलम का वैदिक नाम है।

Question 120

Which Veda contains the Sukta “Ekam Sat Vipra Bahuda Vadanti” ?

  1. Aऋग्वेद
  2. Bयजुर्वेद
  3. Cसामवेद
  4. Dअथर्ववेद

Explanation

“एकं सद् विप्रा बहुधा वदन्ति” (सत्य एक है, विद्वान उसे अनेक नामों से पुकारते हैं) ऋग्वेद के प्रथम मंडल (1.164.46) के सूक्त का अंश है। यह वैदिक चिंतन में एकेश्वरवादी/अद्वैत भावना का प्रसिद्ध उदाहरण है।

Practice Questions

Question 1

How many mandalas (books) are there in total in the Rigveda?

  1. A8
  2. B10
  3. C12
  4. D18

Explanation

The Rigveda is divided into 10 mandalas, containing about 1,028 hymns. Mandalas 2–7 are considered the oldest (family mandalas), while Mandalas 1, 8, 9 and 10 were added later.

Question 2

Which of the following Vedas deals with the ritual procedures used in sacrifices (yajnas)?

  1. Aऋग्वेद
  2. Bसामवेद
  3. Cयजुर्वेद
  4. Dअथर्ववेद

Explanation

The Yajurveda compiles the ritual formulae, in prose and verse, used in sacrifices. It has two branches — Shukla and Krishna Yajurveda.

Question 3

What is the modern name of the river 'Vipasha', one of the Sapta Sindhu (seven rivers)?

  1. Aसतलुज
  2. Bरावी
  3. Cव्यास
  4. Dचिनाब

Explanation

Vipasha was the Vedic-age name of the river now known as the Beas. Shutudri is the Sutlej, Parushni is the Ravi, and Asikni is the Chenab.

Question 4

The Vedic-age institution that was a broad assembly of the entire tribe and took part in electing the king was called

  1. Aसभा
  2. Bसमिति
  3. Cविदथ
  4. Dजनपद

Explanation

The Samiti was the broad assembly of the whole tribe, which took part in electing the king and in major decisions, while the Sabha was a smaller council of senior members.

Question 5

The use of which metal in the Later Vedic period accelerated agriculture and forest clearance?

  1. Aताँबा
  2. Bकाँसा
  3. Cसोना
  4. Dलोहा

Explanation

In the Later Vedic Age, iron tools sped up land clearance and farming, leading to settled habitation in the Ganga-Yamuna doab. Copper was the main metal in the Rigvedic Age.

Question 6

In the 'Battle of Ten Kings' (Dasharajna Yuddha), King Sudas of the Bharata tribe faced a confederacy of how many tribes?

  1. Aपाँच
  2. Bसात
  3. Cदस
  4. Dबारह

Explanation

The literal meaning of 'Dasharajna' is itself 'the battle of ten kings' — King Sudas of the Bharata tribe defeated a confederacy of ten kings (tribes) on the banks of the Parushni.

Question 7

Which part of Vedic literature is focused on philosophical subjects such as the soul (Atman), the ultimate reality (Brahman), and rebirth?

  1. Aब्राह्मण ग्रंथ
  2. Bआरण्यक
  3. Cउपनिषद
  4. Dसंहिता

Explanation

The Upanishads (Vedanta) are the part of Vedic literature focused on philosophical subjects like the soul, the absolute, and rebirth, such as the Chandogya and Brihadaranyaka Upanishads. The Brahmana texts explain sacrificial procedures.

Question 8

Which region was the main political-cultural centre of the Later Vedic period?

  1. Aसप्त सिंधु
  2. Bकुरु-पांचाल
  3. Cगांधार
  4. Dअवन्ति

Explanation

In the Later Vedic Age, the centre shifted from Sapta Sindhu (Punjab) to the Kuru-Panchala region in the Ganga-Yamuna doab, which is also linked to the Painted Grey Ware (PGW) culture.

Question 9

Which of the following statements is correct with reference to Rigvedic society?

  1. Aवर्ण-व्यवस्था पूर्णतः जन्म-आधारित व कठोर थी
  2. Bस्त्रियाँ सभा में भाग नहीं ले सकती थीं
  3. Cवर्ण-व्यवस्था पेशा-आधारित व अपेक्षाकृत लचीली थी
  4. Dलोहे के औज़ार व्यापक रूप से प्रयोग होते थे

Explanation

In the Rigvedic Age, the varna system was occupation-based and flexible; the rigidity based on birth came in the Later Vedic Age. In this period, women took part in the Sabha, and the main metal was copper, not iron.

Question 10

Which sacrifice (yajna) was performed in the Later Vedic period to display a king's power and sovereignty?

  1. Aउपनयन संस्कार
  2. Bअश्वमेध यज्ञ
  3. Cअन्नप्राशन संस्कार
  4. Dसमावर्तन संस्कार

Explanation

Grand sacrifices such as Ashvamedha, Rajasuya, and Vajapeya were performed by kings in the Later Vedic Age to display their power and dominance. The other options are personal-life rites (samskaras), not royal sacrifices.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many REET questions come from the Vedic Age?+

REET 2024 had 2 questions from this topic — both based on fine details about the Vedas and Vedic rivers. It's a regularly asked topic in the ancient history section of Social Studies.

Which of the four Vedas is the oldest?+

The Rigveda is the oldest Veda, compiling hymns in praise of deities. The Atharvaveda is considered the last Veda to be composed.

Who was the Battle of the Ten Kings fought between?+

It was fought between King Sudas of the Bharata tribe and a confederacy of ten other tribes, on the banks of the Parushni (Ravi) river, and Sudas emerged victorious.

What's the difference between the Sabha and the Samiti?+

The Sabha was a smaller council of senior, experienced members that gave justice and advice, while the Samiti was the broader assembly of the whole tribe, which took part in major decisions like electing the king.

What was the significance of using iron in the Later Vedic Age?+

Iron tools (axes, ploughs) made it easier to clear dense forests and farm the land, allowing settled habitation and larger states to develop in fertile regions like the Ganga-Yamuna doab.

Read next

Indus Valley Civilisation

Previous topic

Jainism and Buddhism

Next topic

REET Syllabus

The full syllabus in one place

REET 2024 Solved Paper

Solved questions from every subject

Official Sources

  1. NCERT Class 6 Social Science — Chapter 7: India's Cultural Roots

Change Log

  • 17 September 2026 — English page published — mirrors the fact-checked Hindi page, independently bilingual-accuracy checked