The famous Sanskrit dramatist and poet Bhasa, known for plays like 'Swapnavasavadatta', is generally believed to have belonged to which period?

💡 Solution & Explanation

The Sanskrit dramatist Bhasa is generally believed to have belonged to the post-Maurya or early Gupta period, predating classical masters like Kalidasa who frequently referenced him in their own works. Plays attributed to him include Swapnavasavadatta and Pratijna Yaugandharayana. His dramatic style broke away from strict traditional Sanskrit dramatic conventions by staging deaths and violent scenes directly on stage. The rediscovery of his thirteen lost plays in Kerala during the early twentieth century revolutionized ancient Indian literary history.