Question

Which of the following is/are not correctly matched?

1. Vikramankdevacarita-Bilhan
2. Mattavilasa-Mahendravikramavarman
3. Svapnavasavadatta -Bana
4. Devichandragupta-Visakhadatta

• A. iii, iv
• B. iii only
• C. None of these
• D. ii only

Answer 1

Answer:

B. iii only

Literary Works and Their Authors in Ancient India

• The question tests knowledge of famous literary works from ancient India and their respective authors. Understanding these matches is crucial for competitive exams, as they often appear in history and literature sections.

1. Vikramankadevacharita - Bilhana (Correctly Matched)

• Author: Bilhana was a Kashmiri poet of the 11th century CE.

• Work: Vikramankadevacharita is a historical epic poem (Mahakavya) that narrates the life and achievements of the Western Chalukya king Vikramaditya VI (1076-1126 CE).

• Significance: It is a significant source of information about the Western Chalukya dynasty and the reign of Vikramaditya VI, who was also known as Vikramanka.

2. Mattavilasa Prahasana - Mahendravarman I (Correctly Matched)

• Author: Mahendravarman I was a great Pallava king (c. 600–630 CE) who ruled from Kanchipuram.

• Work: Mattavilasa Prahasana is a Sanskrit one-act satirical play (Prahasana means 'farce' or 'burlesque').

• Theme: The play ridicules the decadent practices of Kapalikas and Pasupatas (Shaiva sects) and also touches upon Jainism and Buddhism, reflecting the religious landscape of his time.

• Additional Fact: Mahendravarman I was a patron of art and architecture, responsible for initiating rock-cut temples in Tamil Nadu. He also adopted the title 'Chitrakarapuli' (Tiger among Artists).

3. Svapnavasavadatta - Bana (Incorrectly Matched)

• Incorrect Match: Svapnavasavadatta was NOT written by Bana.

• Correct Author: The play Svapnavasavadatta (The Dream of Vasavadatta) is one of the most famous Sanskrit plays attributed to Bhasa.

• Bhasa's Period: Bhasa is believed to have lived sometime between the 2nd century BCE and the 4th century CE, possibly earlier than Kalidasa. His plays were discovered only in the early 20th century in Trivandrum by Ganapati Sastri.

• Bana Bhatta: Bana Bhatta (7th century CE) was the court poet (Asthana Kavi) of King Harshavardhana of Thanesar and Kannauj.

• Bana's Major Works: His most famous works are Harshacharita (a biography of King Harsha) and Kadambari (an elaborate prose romance). Both are significant for their unique prose style.

4. Devichandraguptam - Vishakhadatta (Correctly Matched)

• Author: Vishakhadatta was an Indian playwright and poet who is traditionally placed in the 4th or 5th century CE.

• Work: Devichandraguptam is a Sanskrit play, though only fragments of it survive.

• Theme: It narrates the story of Chandragupta II taking the form of his sister-in-law Dhruvadevi to kill the Saka ruler and reclaim the empire's honor, leading to the overthrow of his elder brother Ramagupta.

• Other Major Work: Vishakhadatta's other well-known play is Mudrarakshasa (The Signet Ring of Rakshasa), which deals with the ascent of Chandragupta Maurya to power with the help of Chanakya (Kautilya), and the downfall of the Nanda dynasty.

• Significance: Both plays are important historical dramas, providing insights into political intrigue and governance in ancient India.