Question

Which of the following statements about Kalidasa is true?

• A. Kalidasa was a 3rd-century BCE Tamil poet known for his scientific treatises.
• B. He served as a courtier under Chandragupta II and authored the celebrated play Abhijñāna Śākuntalam.
• C. His writings were mostly uninfluenced by ancient Indian epics and religious texts.
• D. Raghuvamsa and Kumārasambhava are among his lesser-known plays.

Answer 1

Answer:

B. He served as a courtier under Chandragupta II and authored the celebrated play Abhijñāna Śākuntalam.

Kalidasa was a renowned Sanskrit playwright from the 4th-5th century CE, believed to have served as a courtier under Chandragupta II. His works are deeply influenced by the Vedas, the Ramayana, the Mahabharata, and the Puranas. Among his notable plays are Mālavikāgnimitram (The Story of Mālavikā and Agnimitra) and Vikramorvasiyam (The Story of Vikrama and Urvashi). He also composed epic poems like Raghuvamsa (The Dynasty of Raghu) and Kumārasambhava (The Birth of Kumara, or Subrahmanya), as well as Khandakavyas (minor poems). However, his most famous and celebrated work remains Abhijñāna Śākuntalam (The Recognition of Shakuntala).