Question

Which of the following statements about the ancient Indian poet-king Sudraka is correct?

• A. Sudraka was a 4th-century BCE playwright who authored only monologues.
• B. Sudraka’s most renowned work is Mrichchhakatika, a ten-act play based on Bhasa’s unfinished Charudattam.
• C. Mrichchhakatika is a mythological epic centered on divine characters and battles.
• D. Sudraka lived in Varanasi and wrote exclusively about rural life.

Answer 1

Answer:

B. Sudraka’s most renowned work is Mrichchhakatika, a ten-act play based on Bhasa’s unfinished Charudattam.

Sudraka, meaning "the little servant," was a poet-king who lived in Ujjain during the 2nd century CE. He is best known for his Prakarana play Mrichchhakatika (The Little Clay Cart), which is an expanded version of Bhasa’s unfinished play Charudattam (Charudatta). This ten-act play tells the love story of Charudatta, a Brahmin merchant, and Vasantasenâ, a courtesan, whose relationship is obstructed by a jealous suitor. It provides a vivid and realistic portrayal of urban society and the intricate social structure of the time. Sudraka’s other works include Vinavasavadatta, a Bhana (a short one-act monologue), and Padmaprabhritaka.