2016 · Q107
The earliest literary references to iron in the Indian Sub-Continent are found in the:
history-of-indiavedic-mahajanapadas
- ARigveda
- BSamaveda
- CYajurveda
- DVinaya Pitaka
Explanation
The earliest literary references to iron (krishna-ayas / shyama-ayas) in the subcontinent occur in the Yajurveda tradition, particularly the Shatapatha Brahmana. The Rigveda mentions ayas (copper/bronze) but not iron distinctly, and the Samaveda and Vinaya Pitaka are not the earliest sources. Hence the Yajurveda is correct.