Literature and Sanskrit During the Gupta Period

The Gupta period marked the golden age of Sanskrit literature, with Sanskrit becoming the lingua franca of the Indian subcontinent. This era also witnessed the evolution of the Nagari script from Brahmi.

Religious and Legal Texts

• Many important texts, including the Mahabharata and Ramayana, were compiled in their present form during this period.
• The Puranas, Smritis, and Dharmashastras saw significant development, serving as religious and legal guides.
• Yajnavalkyasmriti, regarded as the official law book of the Guptas, and Naradasmriti were composed during this time.

Royal Patronage and Scholars

• • Samudragupta, a scholar and poet, was titled “Kaviraj” and supported eminent intellectuals, including Harisena.
  • Chandragupta II’s court was adorned by the Navratnas (Nine Gems), who were renowned scholars in various disciplines.

The Nine Gems of Chandragupta II’s Court

• • Kalidasa – The greatest Sanskrit poet and dramatist
  • Dhanvantari – An expert in medicine and Ayurveda
  • Kshapanaka – A scholar of astrology
  • Amar Singh – A lexicographer and author of Amarkosha
  • Shanku – A master of architecture
  • Vetalabhatta – A noted magician and scholar
  • Ghatakarpara – A poet
  • Varahamihira – A renowned astronomer and mathematician
  • Varuchi – A grammarian and linguist

Other Literary Contributions

• • Visakhadatta wrote the Sanskrit dramas Mudrarakshasa and Devichandraguptam.
  • Vatsyayana authored the Nyaya Sutra Bhashya, a commentary on logic and philosophy.
  • Bharavi composed Kritarjuniya, which narrates the battle between Arjuna and Lord Shiva.
  • Dandin contributed to Sanskrit prose with Kavyadarsa and Dasakumaracharita.
  • Bhasa’s Dradiracharudatta was later refined by Shudraka into the famous Sanskrit drama Mrichchhakatikam (The Little Clay Cart).
  • Amarasimha, another Navratna, compiled Amarakosha, an important Sanskrit lexicon.
  • Vishnusarma wrote the Panchatantra, a collection of fables teaching moral lessons through animal stories.

The Role of Sanskrit Theatre

• • Sanskrit theatre during the Gupta period had a strict convention – it did not allow tragedies.
  • Characters of noble birth spoke Sanskrit, while women and lower-class characters used Prakrit, indicating the social hierarchy of languages.

Kalidasa – The Foremost Poet of the Gupta Period

• Kalidasa was the most celebrated among the Navratnas, and his works set the standard for classical Sanskrit literature. His writings include:
• Plays:
  • Abhijnana Shakuntalam – His masterpiece, which tells the story of Shakuntala and King Dushyanta
  • Malavikagnimitram – Based on the love story of King Agnimitra and Malavika
  • Vikramorvasiyam – A tale of King Pururavas and the celestial nymph Urvashi
• Epics:
  • Raghuvamsham – Chronicles the lineage of Lord Rama
  • Kumarasambhavam – Narrates the story of the birth of Lord Kartikeya
• Poems:
  • Ritusamhara – Describes the six seasons of India
  • Meghadutam – A lyrical poem about a cloud carrying a message of love