Prelims 2003 · archive
Medium‘Mrichchhakatika’ an ancient Indian book written by Shudraka deals with
Answer & explanation
Answer: (a) the love affair of a rich merchant with the daughter of a courtesan
Mrichchhakatika (The Little Clay Cart) is a social drama about Charudatta, a Brahmana merchant who has fallen on hard times, and his love for the courtesan Vasantasena. It has nothing to do with the Gupta kings' wars.
- ✓ (a) The play is about Charudatta, a merchant, and Vasantasena, the daughter of a courtesan.
- ✗ (b) Chandragupta II's victory over the Shaka Kshatrapas is not its theme.
- ✗ (c) Samudragupta's exploits are recorded in the Allahabad Pillar inscription.
- ✗ (d) It has no Gupta king and Kamarupa princess.
Remember · Mrichchhakatika (Shudraka): a drama on the merchant Charudatta and Vasantasena.
📘 Read it in NCERT: Class 12 Themes in Indian History, Part I, Ch 3 (practise this chapter) · Class 11 Knowledge Traditions and Practices of India, Part I, Ch 3 (practise this chapter)
Sources
- NCERT Class 12 · Themes in Indian History, Part I, Chapter 3 “the Mrichchhakatika written by Shudraka (c. fourth century CE), Here, the hero Charudatta was described as both a Brahmana and a sarthavaha or merchant”
- NCERT Class 11 · Knowledge Traditions and Practices of India, Part I, Chapter 3 “Shudraka wrote Mrcchakatikam, which is undoubtedly a masterpiece.”
Question: UPSC Civil Services (Preliminary) 2003, General Studies paper. UPSC did not publish an answer key for 2003: the answer shown is the one the sources above support. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 24 Oct 2026 (how we verify). ·