Directions: Read the given passage carefully and answer the question that follows:
Connoisseur Dr. Vogel did not call Chamba a wonder ("achambha") without reason. And tourists are also not drawn to this city for nothing. There is definitely some hypnosis in the valleys of Chamba that mesmerizes the tourists and they keep visiting here again and again. Where the rising melodic waves in the temples make the environment spiritual, the majestic flow of the Ravi river and the cool breeze coming from the mountains give a feeling of freshness to the tourists. Chamba is a beautiful blend of history, art, religion, and tourism, and the people of Chamba are carefree and eccentric by nature. As we cross the hills of Chamba, many pages of wonders open up before us. Nature shows a glimpse of its divine beauty. Dr. Vogel must have called it a wonder only after absorbing the beauty of Chamba. It has been Chamba's good fortune that it got one after another great art-loving, religious, and public servant kings. During the reign of these kings, not only did the local folk arts flourish here, but their fame spread beyond the borders of Chamba all over India. Among these art-loving rulers, the names of Raj Sri Singh (1844), Raja Ram Singh (1873), and Raja Bhuri Singh (1904) are particularly noteworthy. Whether it is architecture or mural painting, sculpture or woodcraft, the kind of encouragement they received in Chamba was hardly found anywhere else. Chamba's Kalam style (pen style) has created its own distinct identity. If you look standing from the height of any valley, the entire Chamba city looks like a unique piece of art.
Question: Identify the synonym of the word 'Vashikrit' (captivated/spellbound) from the passage.
- AFame (Khyati)
- BMesmerized (Mantramugdha)
- CNotable (Ullekhaniya)
- DTourists (Sailaniyon)
Solution & Step-by-step Explanation
The word 'Vashikrit' (वशीकृत) means to be completely captivated, charmed, or spellbound by someone or something. In the passage, the word 'Mantramugdha' (मंत्रमुग्ध) is used in a identical context: "...जो सैलानियों को मंत्रमुग्ध कर देता है" (...which leaves the tourists mesmerized). Thus, 'मंत्रमुग्ध' is the exact synonym. Option B is correct.