Multiple choice

Assertion (A) : A notable feature in the Sanskrit plays of Gupta period was that the characters of high social status spoke Sanskrit, whereas those of low social status spoke Prakrit. Reason (R) : Prakrit, as a language was more closely related to the speech of the times than classical Sanskrit.

  1. Both 'A' and 'R' are individually true and 'R' is the correct explanation of A

  2. Both 'A' and 'R' are individually true but 'R' is not the correct explanation of 'A'

  3. 'A' is true but 'R' is false

  4. 'A' is false but 'R' is true
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B Correct answer
Explanation

Both statements are factually correct. Sanskrit drama convention indeed reserved Sanskrit for high-status characters and Prakrit for commoners and women. Prakrit was also closer to contemporary spoken languages. However, R does not explain A - the use of Prakrit was a dramatic convention reflecting social hierarchy in performance, not primarily driven by linguistic proximity. Sanskrit's prestige as the liturgical language was the key factor.

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