Question 91 from UPSC CSE 2016 - Culture

Question

Which one of the following books of ancient India has the love story of the son of the founder of the Sunga dynasty?

IASCODEX · Accepted Answer

Correct Option: B. Malavikagnimitra

Strategy: - Identify the historical figure as the son of the Sunga dynasty's founder.
- Recall that the founder is Pushyamitra Sunga and his son is Agnimitra.
- Use keyword association to connect 'Agnimitra' with the title 'Malavikagnimitra'.
- Confirm through factual recall that 'Malavikagnimitra' depicts Agnimitra's love story.
- Eliminate other options by recognizing their different central characters and themes.

Key Info: **Sunga Dynasty**
- Established by Pushyamitra Sunga in 185 BCE, after overthrowing the last Mauryan emperor, Brihadratha.
- Pushyamitra Sunga was a Brahmin general (Senapati) of the Mauryan empire.
- The dynasty ruled parts of ancient India for about 112 years.
- Agnimitra was Pushyamitra's son and successor, ruling from Vidisha.

**Malavikagnimitra**
- Authored by Kalidasa, one of the greatest Sanskrit dramatists.
- It is Kalidasa's first play, a drama focusing on the love story of King Agnimitra (the son of Pushyamitra Sunga) and Malavika, a princess.
- The play provides insights into the political climate and court life during the Sunga period.

**Swapnavasavadatta**
- A famous Sanskrit play by Bhasa, a celebrated ancient Indian playwright who predated Kalidasa.
- The plot revolves around King Udayana of Vatsa and his wife, Queen Vasavadatta, and a fabricated rumor of her death to facilitate his marriage to Princess Padmavati for political alliances.

**Meghadoota**
- A lyrical poem (khandakavya) by Kalidasa.
- It describes a Yaksha (a celestial being exiled from his home) sending a message to his beloved through a cloud, describing the beautiful landscapes and landmarks the cloud would pass on its journey to Alaka.

**Ratnavali**
- A Sanskrit natika (a type of play, shorter than a full drama) written by King Harsha (ruled c. 606-647 CE) of the Pushyabhuti dynasty.
- The play tells the story of King Udayana and his love for Ratnavali, a princess who turns out to be his queen Vasavadatta's lost cousin.

**Kalidasa's other works**
- **Abhigyanashakuntalam:** Considered his masterpiece, depicting the love story of King Dushyanta and Shakuntala.
- **Vikramorvasiyam:** A play about the love between King Pururavas and the celestial nymph Urvashi.
- **Raghuvamsa:** An epic poem detailing the lineage of the Raghu dynasty, to which Lord Rama belonged.
- **Kumarasambhava:** An epic poem describing the birth of Kartikeya.

IASCODEX · Answer

Option A: Swapnavasavadatta

IASCODEX · Answer

Option C: Meghadoota

IASCODEX · Answer

Option D: Ratnavali