In the context of ancient Indian society, which one of the following terms does not belong to the category of the other three?
- Kula
- Vamsa
- Kosa
- Gotra
Explanation
Option (c) is correct
- Kosa is the odd one out because it is not related to kinship or lineage. In Sanskrit usage, kula denotes a family, vamsha (vamsa) signifies lineage or descent, and gotra refers to a clan traced to a common ancestor, often linked with rules of exogamy. All three are kinship-based concepts. By contrast, kosa means a treasury (and in some contexts, a lexicon), making it an economic or literary term rather than a social or lineage category.
