UPSC Exam  >  UPSC Questions  >   Which of the following books is the story of... Start Learning for Free
Which of the following books is the story of merchant Kovalan and a courtesan Madhavi?
  • a)
    Cīvaka Cintāmaṇi
  • b)
    Valayapathi
  • c)
    Kuṇṭalakēci
  • d)
    Silappadikaram
Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?
Verified Answer
Which of the following books is the story of merchant Kovalan and a c...
A famous Tamil epic, the Silappadikaram, was composed by a poet named Ilango, around 1800 years ago. It is the story of a merchant named Kovalan, who lived in Puhar and fell in love with a courtesan named Madhavi, neglecting his wife Kannagi.
View all questions of this test
Most Upvoted Answer
Which of the following books is the story of merchant Kovalan and a c...
Silappadikaram is the correct answer.

Silappadikaram, also known as The Tale of an Anklet, is an ancient Tamil epic written by Ilango Adigal. It is one of the five great epics of Tamil literature and is considered a masterpiece in Tamil literature.

The story of Silappadikaram revolves around the lives of its three main characters: Kovalan, Kannagi, and Madhavi. Kovalan is a wealthy merchant, Kannagi is his loyal wife, and Madhavi is a beautiful courtesan.

Here is a detailed explanation of the story:

1. The marriage of Kovalan and Kannagi:
- Kovalan, a wealthy merchant from Puhar (now known as Poompuhar), falls in love with Kannagi, a virtuous and loyal woman.
- They get married and live a happy life until Kovalan is seduced by the courtesan Madhavi.

2. Kovalan's affair with Madhavi:
- Kovalan becomes infatuated with Madhavi and starts spending all his wealth on her.
- He abandons Kannagi and lives a lavish lifestyle with Madhavi.

3. Kovalan's downfall:
- Kovalan's wealth eventually runs out, and he realizes his mistake.
- He decides to return to Kannagi and seek forgiveness.

4. The false accusation and Kannagi's revenge:
- Kovalan and Kannagi arrive in Madurai, where Kovalan plans to start a new life.
- However, Kovalan is falsely accused of stealing the queen's anklet and is executed by the king's orders.
- Kannagi is devastated by her husband's death but is determined to seek justice.

5. Kannagi's wrath and the destruction of Madurai:
- Kannagi proves Kovalan's innocence by revealing the true culprit - the queen's pearl anklet contains a hidden gem that was stolen by the king himself.
- Enraged by the injustice, Kannagi curses the city of Madurai, causing it to be engulfed in flames.
- The city is destroyed, and the king and queen perish in the fire.

The story of Silappadikaram is not only a tale of love, betrayal, and revenge but also explores themes of justice, morality, and the consequences of one's actions. It is a timeless epic that continues to be celebrated for its literary brilliance and cultural significance.
Explore Courses for UPSC exam

Top Courses for UPSC

Which of the following books is the story of merchant Kovalan and a courtesan Madhavi?a)Cīvaka Cintāmaṇib)Valayapathic)Kuṇṭalakēcid)SilappadikaramCorrect answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?
Question Description
Which of the following books is the story of merchant Kovalan and a courtesan Madhavi?a)Cīvaka Cintāmaṇib)Valayapathic)Kuṇṭalakēcid)SilappadikaramCorrect answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer? for UPSC 2024 is part of UPSC preparation. The Question and answers have been prepared according to the UPSC exam syllabus. Information about Which of the following books is the story of merchant Kovalan and a courtesan Madhavi?a)Cīvaka Cintāmaṇib)Valayapathic)Kuṇṭalakēcid)SilappadikaramCorrect answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer? covers all topics & solutions for UPSC 2024 Exam. Find important definitions, questions, meanings, examples, exercises and tests below for Which of the following books is the story of merchant Kovalan and a courtesan Madhavi?a)Cīvaka Cintāmaṇib)Valayapathic)Kuṇṭalakēcid)SilappadikaramCorrect answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?.
Solutions for Which of the following books is the story of merchant Kovalan and a courtesan Madhavi?a)Cīvaka Cintāmaṇib)Valayapathic)Kuṇṭalakēcid)SilappadikaramCorrect answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer? in English & in Hindi are available as part of our courses for UPSC. Download more important topics, notes, lectures and mock test series for UPSC Exam by signing up for free.
Here you can find the meaning of Which of the following books is the story of merchant Kovalan and a courtesan Madhavi?a)Cīvaka Cintāmaṇib)Valayapathic)Kuṇṭalakēcid)SilappadikaramCorrect answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer? defined & explained in the simplest way possible. Besides giving the explanation of Which of the following books is the story of merchant Kovalan and a courtesan Madhavi?a)Cīvaka Cintāmaṇib)Valayapathic)Kuṇṭalakēcid)SilappadikaramCorrect answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?, a detailed solution for Which of the following books is the story of merchant Kovalan and a courtesan Madhavi?a)Cīvaka Cintāmaṇib)Valayapathic)Kuṇṭalakēcid)SilappadikaramCorrect answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer? has been provided alongside types of Which of the following books is the story of merchant Kovalan and a courtesan Madhavi?a)Cīvaka Cintāmaṇib)Valayapathic)Kuṇṭalakēcid)SilappadikaramCorrect answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer? theory, EduRev gives you an ample number of questions to practice Which of the following books is the story of merchant Kovalan and a courtesan Madhavi?a)Cīvaka Cintāmaṇib)Valayapathic)Kuṇṭalakēcid)SilappadikaramCorrect answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer? tests, examples and also practice UPSC tests.
Explore Courses for UPSC exam

Top Courses for UPSC

Explore Courses
Signup for Free!
Signup to see your scores go up within 7 days! Learn & Practice with 1000+ FREE Notes, Videos & Tests.
10M+ students study on EduRev