Q. Which one of the following books of ancient India has the love story of the son of the founder of Sunga dynasty? (UPSC Prelims 2016)
Answer: Malavikagnimitra
Notes: The correct answer is [B] Malavikagnimitra. This Sanskrit play was the first dramatic work written by Kalidasa, the legendary poet and playwright of the Gupta era.

• The Protagonist (Correct): The "son of the founder of the Sunga dynasty" mentioned in the question is Agnimitra. His father, Pushyamitra Sunga, founded the Sunga dynasty after assassinating the last Maurya ruler, Brihadratha, in 185 BCE.
• The Plot: The play depicts the love story between King Agnimitra and Malavika, an exiled servant girl who is actually a princess in disguise. It also provides historical insights into the Sunga period, including references to the Ashvamedha Yajna performed by Pushyamitra Sunga and a conflict with the Indo-Greeks.

Analysis of Other Options:

• Swapnavasavadatta (Option A): Written by Bhasa, it tells the story of King Udayana of Vatsa and his queen Vasavadatta. It is set much earlier than the Sunga period.
• Meghadoota (Option C): Also written by Kalidasa, this is a lyric poem (Kavya) about a Yaksha sending a message to his lover via a cloud. It is not a historical love story of a Sunga prince.
• Ratnavali (Option D): A Sanskrit drama written by King Harshavardhana of the Vardhana dynasty in the 7th century CE. It centers on the princess Ratnavali and King Udayana.

Historically, Malavikagnimitra is significant because it confirms the transition from the Maurya to the Sunga dynasty and highlights the cultural patronage that continued in the post-Mauryan era.