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Vishnu SasikumarAIR 31· 2023

Question Q.13GS1GS1

Sanskrit literature in general and particularly in the Guptian age set a high watermark for the literary history of ancient India. Discuss.

Open scan (p.31)

Main Body

Gupta age in 6th century AD showed proliferation of literary works in Sanskrit, thus carving the epithet of 'Golden age of Indian culture'.

Hamsa Sanskrit Literature

Aryabhataym, Vedas

Sanskrit literature - Abhinavaram

Panini's grammar, Misdhaksha

Given the high literary quality and royal patronage, Sanskrit literature in ancient India is a high watermark.

deals with hymns, verses for gods with sexual elaborate.

e) Upanishads dealing with spiritual life, moksha written in Sanskrit, show reverence even today. & Vasisthakramakaran from Haha Upanishad.

e) Sanskrit Buddhist works like Buddhacharita and Milindapanha inspired later stories, indicating their high quality.

Gupta age

e) Presence of luminaries like Haldidas in Navatakya of Chandragupta II led to profligating of Sanskrit works.

e) Abhijanam Shakuntalam, Meghdoorta etc Sanskrit epics which are stories dealing with human lives, told even today.

e) Elaborate grammar rules of Sanskrit in Panini's 'Ashtadhyayi'.

Sanskrit works dealing with mediocre life (Chumikayamukti) cured scientific temper.

e) Apultatyam, the Sanskrit work on moth set standards, for mathematically work.

e) Mudrarakshasa by Visakadatta show vivid political social life during Mauryan age.

the given the high watermark of works, since of subjects and clear patronage, Sanskrit works as Ancient India & present high watermark. Ancient high watermarked.

However, ancient India also saw vernacular works setting high standards.

e) India by Megasthenes.

e) Sangampoem like Thirukkural Silappatikaram

e) Deep varnsa & Nayanaya in Pali

e) Yipitakay in Prakrit etc.

thus the high watermark works of Sanskrit & Vernacular languages ensured vernacular simplicity to raise, paving easy for

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Conclusion

The answer attempts to show that high watermark was set not just by Sanskrit works but also by vernacular literature.

20 words

Answer continues on next page
  • Identifies Gupta age as 6th century AD
  • References 'Golden age of Indian culture'
  • Mentions royal patronage
  • Cites Sanskrit literary works
  • References Panini's grammar work
  • Discusses Upanishads and spiritual themes
  • References Buddhist Sanskrit works
  • Mentions Gupta age luminaries
  • Cites Abhijyana Shakuntalam and Meghdoota
  • References Panini's Ashtadhyayi
  • Attempts to balance Sanskrit with vernacular literature
  • References Mudrarakshasa
  • Mentions Sangam literature (Thirukkural, Silappatikaram)
  • Cites Pali works (Deep varnsa)
  • References Prakrit texts

Topper

Vishnu Sasikumar

AIR 312023

Subject & Paper

GS1GS1

Topic

Salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times

Salient aspects of Literature from ancient to modern times

Sanskrit literature and Gupta age

Writing Stats

268

Total words

20

Paragraphs