In the context of ancient Indian philosophical literature, Patanjali is especially well known for compiling which foundational text?

Introduction / Context:
Patanjali is a highly revered name in Indian philosophical and spiritual traditions. His work is central to the codification of Yoga as a systematic philosophical school within the broader framework of Indian thought. Many different ancient texts are sometimes confused with each other in competitive exams, so questions often ask you to match authors with their most famous works. Here, you are asked to recall which text is specifically associated with Patanjali's compilation.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- The question mentions Patanjali by name. - Four well known texts are listed as options: Yoga Sutra, Panchatantra, Brahma Sutra and Ayurveda. - Only one of these is universally associated with Patanjali in standard exam references. - We focus on mainstream traditional attributions rather than scholarly debates.

Concept / Approach:
Patanjali is traditionally credited with compiling the Yoga Sutra, a foundational text that systematises the philosophy and practice of Yoga into an eightfold path. Panchatantra is a collection of animal fables associated with Vishnu Sharma, not Patanjali. Brahma Sutra is linked with the Vedanta tradition and usually attributed to Badarayana. Ayurveda is a broad field of traditional Indian medicine, and foundational texts like Charaka Samhita and Sushruta Samhita are associated with other authors, not Patanjali. Therefore, the correct match for Patanjali is the Yoga Sutra.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify Patanjali as a figure historically linked with the Yoga philosophical school. Step 2: Recall that the Yoga Sutra is the core text that lays out the principles of Ashtanga Yoga (eightfold path) including yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, dhyana and samadhi. Step 3: Recognise that Panchatantra is a didactic collection of stories designed to teach political and moral lessons, attributed to Vishnu Sharma. Step 4: Understand that Brahma Sutra summarises and systematises Vedantic philosophy and is not authored by Patanjali. Step 5: Note that Ayurveda refers to the traditional medical system with major texts like Charaka Samhita and Sushruta Samhita, whose authorship is not linked to Patanjali in the usual exam syllabus. Step 6: Conclude that Patanjali is best known for compiling the Yoga Sutra.

Verification / Alternative check:
You can verify this by checking any introduction to Indian philosophy or Yoga, where Patanjali is consistently introduced as the author or compiler of the Yoga Sutra. Modern Yoga schools, both in India and abroad, refer to “Patanjali's Yoga Sutras” as a standard phrase. By contrast, Panchatantra is always discussed in the context of moral tales and didactic literature, and the Brahma Sutra in the context of Vedanta and Shankara's commentaries. These associations reinforce that the safe and correct answer is Yoga Sutra.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Panchatantra is wrong because it is attributed to Vishnu Sharma, not Patanjali, and belongs to the genre of fable literature.

Brahma Sutra is wrong because it is usually credited to Badarayana and is the foundational text of Vedanta, not the Yoga school.

Ayurveda is wrong as a broad medical tradition with its own classical texts, which are not compiled by Patanjali in standard historical narratives.

Common Pitfalls:
Sometimes students see the word “Sutra” and confuse different sutra texts, especially Brahma Sutra and Yoga Sutra. Another mistake is to associate Patanjali with Ayurveda because of modern brand names using his name, which has nothing to do with the actual ancient authorship. To avoid these errors, keep a simple memory hook: Patanjali – Yoga Sutra – classical system of Yoga. This direct association will reliably lead you to the correct option in similar questions.

Final Answer:
Patanjali is especially well known for compiling the Yoga Sutra.