Question 60 from UPSC CSE 2024 - Art & Culture

Question

Which one of the following is a work attributed to playwright Bhasa?

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: C. Madhyama-vyayoga

Strategy: Focus on correctly matching the work's title with its author. Eliminate options incorrectly attributed to Bhasa, such as Natyashastra (authored by Bharata Muni), Mahabhashya (by Patanjali), and Kavyalankara (by Bhamaha or Rudrata). Directly select the correct answer by identifying the work properly associated with Bhasa's dramatic oeuvre, which is Madhyama-vyayoga.

Key Info: ## About Bhasa
Bhasa is one of the earliest and most celebrated playwrights of classical Sanskrit literature. His plays were believed lost until several manuscripts were rediscovered in 1912. Bhasa's influence is significant as his plays introduced directness in dialogue and innovative narrative structures to Sanskrit drama.

## Key Work: Madhyama-vyayoga
The 'Madhyama-vyayoga' is a one-act play by Bhasa that features characters from the Mahabharata, particularly Bhima and his son Ghatotkacha.

## Other Works by Bhasa
Bhasa's oeuvre includes notable plays such as:
- Svapnavasavadatta
- Pratijna-Yaugandharayana
- Avimaraka
- Duta-Ghatotkacha
- Dutavakya
- Balacharita
- Charudatta

## Works by Other Authors
- **Kavyalankara:** A Sanskrit treatise on poetics, principally authored by Bhamaha and later Rudrata.
- **Natyashastra:** A foundational treatise on dramaturgy attributed to Bharata Muni (c. 2nd century BCE - 2nd century CE).
- **Mahabhashya:** A seminal commentary on Panini's grammar, authored by Patanjali (2nd century BCE).

Answer

Option A: Kavyalankara

Answer

Option B: Natyashastra

Answer

Option D: Mahabhashya