Question

Who wrote Mrichchhakatika (Clay Cart)?
a. Akbar
b. Kalidas
c. Sudraka
d. Dandin

Answer 1

Hint: Mrichchhakatika is a Sanskrit drama comprising ten acts depicting the love story of Charudutta and Vasantasena. Three Sanskrit plays are ascribed to the author of mrichchhakatika - Mrichchhakatika (The Little Clay Cart), Vinavasavadatta, and a banana (short one-act monologue), Padmaprabhritaka.

Complete answer:
Mrichchhakatika was written by Shudraka, who has an Indian King along with being a playwright. Mrichchhakatika's prologue states that its poet was a king known as 'Shudraka.' To show his supremacy, he performed the Ashvamedha (horse sacrifice) ceremony. Since crowning his son as the next monarch, he was 110 years old when he immolated himself. He is identified in the prologue as a distinguished wise man who had acquired knowledge of Rigveda, Samaveda, mathematics, Kamashastra, and the art of elephant training. A king by the name Shudraka (which literally means 'little servant') is not mentioned in any historical documents. Mrichchhakatika's first four acts are practically a copy of the preceding acts from the unfinished play Charudattam by Bhasa. One idea is that Mrichchhakatika's poet actually completed Bhasa's play out of love, styling himself as Bhasa's "little servant". While the date of Mrichchhakatika (The Little Clay Cart) is unknown, it is a significant example of the dramas of Sanskrit. With traditional rituals and practices and the responsibilities of a householder, the book abounds. The ancient and spiritually important city of Ujjain, in north-central India, paints a vivid image of life.

So, the correct answer is Option (c).

Note: The play was translated into English, notably by Arthur W. Ryder in 1905 as The Little Clay Cart. (It had previously been translated as The Toy Cart by Horace Hayman Wilson in 1826.) Ryder's version was enacted at the Hearst Greek Theatre in Berkeley in 1907.