Which of the following works provide insights into the "social life" and "urban culture" of the Gupta and post-Gupta periods?
Mricchakatika
Dasakumaracharita
Gathasaptasati
Brihatkatha
Select the correct option from the codes given below:

Question

The correct answer is [A] 1 and 2 only.

Mricchakatika (Statement 1 – Correct): Written by Shudraka, this play is a primary source for the social history of the Gupta era. Unlike typical royal dramas, it focuses on the urban life of Ujjain, featuring a merchant (Charudatta), a courtesan (Vasantasena), and various characters like thieves and gamblers, depicting a cosmopolitan and complex society.
Dasakumaracharita (Statement 2 – Correct): Authored by Dandin in the post-Gupta period, "The Tale of the Ten Princes" provides a vivid, often satirical account of urban vices, court intrigues, and the lives of commoners, including detailed descriptions of festivals and social customs.
Gathasaptasati (Statement 3 – Incorrect): This is a collection of Prakrit poems attributed to the Satavahana King Hala. While it provides excellent insights into rural life and emotions, it belongs to an earlier period (1st-2nd century CE) and focuses on the Deccan region rather than the Gupta heartland.
Brihatkatha (Statement 4 – Incorrect): Originally written by Gunadhya in the Paisachi language, this legendary work is also associated with the earlier Satavahana period. Although it influenced later Gupta literature (like the Kathasaritsagara), the original itself predates the Gupta social context.

GKToday Admin · Accepted Answer

1 and 2 only The correct answer is [A] 1 and 2 only.

Mricchakatika (Statement 1 – Correct): Written by Shudraka, this play is a primary source for the social history of the Gupta era. Unlike typical royal dramas, it focuses on the urban life of Ujjain, featuring a merchant (Charudatta), a courtesan (Vasantasena), and various characters like thieves and gamblers, depicting a cosmopolitan and complex society.
Dasakumaracharita (Statement 2 – Correct): Authored by Dandin in the post-Gupta period, "The Tale of the Ten Princes" provides a vivid, often satirical account of urban vices, court intrigues, and the lives of commoners, including detailed descriptions of festivals and social customs.
Gathasaptasati (Statement 3 – Incorrect): This is a collection of Prakrit poems attributed to the Satavahana King Hala. While it provides excellent insights into rural life and emotions, it belongs to an earlier period (1st-2nd century CE) and focuses on the Deccan region rather than the Gupta heartland.
Brihatkatha (Statement 4 – Incorrect): Originally written by Gunadhya in the Paisachi language, this legendary work is also associated with the earlier Satavahana period. Although it influenced later Gupta literature (like the Kathasaritsagara), the original itself predates the Gupta social context.

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