Bhagavad Gītā set text — IGCSE Sanskrit (0499) questions by topic
The Bhagavad Gītā set text is tested through short questions on comparisons, actions and direct translation of named lines, drawn from 5 real questions set in 2023 to 2025 papers, each worth 15 marks.
Translate and state ask for lines rendered accurately in English, while identify and name want a specific detail, such as a comparison used in a given line, picked out precisely rather than summarised loosely. Because a close structural match to the Sanskrit is what the reports single out, drafting a full line-by-line translation and submitting it for instant marking is a direct check of that habit before the exam.
What examiners look for
- Reports note that most candidates showed good knowledge of the verse being tested.
- Examiners advise that the structure of the English translation should stay close to that of the Sanskrit.
May–June 2025, Paper 22
Read the Sanskrit verses in the shared stimulus. Do not write out a translation. Answer in English, with Sanskrit names in transliteration. Translate lines 1 and 2.
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2024, Paper 21
May–June 2024, Paper 22
Read the Sanskrit verses in the shared stimulus. Do not write out a translation. Answer in English, with Sanskrit names in transliteration. What comparison is used in line 1?
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2023, Paper 21
How is Arjuna instructed to perform action? (line 1)
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2023, Paper 22
How, according to line 1, should Arjuna perform actions?
Answer this question and get it marked →