The Chinese traveler Yuan Chwang (Hiuen Tsang) who visited India recorded the general conditions and culture of India at that time. In this context, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1). The roads and river-routes were completely immune from robbery. 2). As regards punishment for offences, ordeals by fire, water and poison were the instruments for determining the innocence or guilt of a person. 3). The tradesmen had to pay duties at ferries and barrier stations. Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

The correct answer is B, that is statements 2 and 3 only.

Statement 1 is wrong. Hiuen Tsang's account does not describe roads and river routes as safe. He records the danger of robbers on travel routes, so the claim of complete immunity from robbery does not hold.

Statement 2 is correct. Hiuen Tsang notes that ordeals by fire, water and poison were used to determine guilt or innocence. This fits the custom-based judicial practice of the period, when legal procedure was not standardised.

Statement 3 is correct. Traders paid duties or tolls at ferries and barrier stations along the routes. This reflects the revenue system and the state's control over trade and movement.

• Option A fails because statement 1 is false.
• Option C fails because statement 1 is false.
• Option D fails for the same reason.

Core concept: foreign travellers' accounts as evidence for the economy, administration and society of early medieval India. For Mains, this lets you contrast the idealised picture of a well-governed state with the realities of law and order.

Trap: candidates pick 'all three' because Hiuen Tsang praises the general prosperity and orderliness of Harsha's kingdom. Praise for overall conditions does not mean every detail, such as road security, was ideal.