Q. In Sanskrit plays written during the Gupta Period women and sudras speak
(a) Sanskrit
(b) Prakrit
(c) Pali
(d) Sauraseni
Ans: (b) Prakrit
Explanation: In Sanskrit plays written during the Gupta Period, women and sudras generally speak (b) Prakrit. Prakrit was a vernacular language derived from Sanskrit and was commonly spoken by different social groups, including women and lower castes, during ancient and medieval times in India. In Sanskrit plays, the use of Prakrit by certain characters, such as women and sudras, was a literary convention to reflect their social status and linguistic diversity. It helped to create a realistic portrayal of different characters and their speech patterns within the play. Sanskrit, on the other hand, was predominantly used by higher social classes and for elevated dialogue and poetic expressions in the plays.
