Sanskrit Literature under the Gupta Period

The Gupta period is distinct from the rest of ancient Indian history. Political union, economic prosperity, and artistic achievement had elevated the society to greater levels. If there was ever a golden age in ancient Indian history, it was unquestionably the Gupta period. During the Guptas’ golden period, cultural qualities like literature, science,  philosophy,  art, painting,  architecture and religion reached the peak of reputation. Sanskrit literature under the Gupta period flourished like no other and great writers created timeless masterpieces. 

Sanskrit Literature under the Gupta Period

The Gupta period saw a surge in literary activity. During that time, a lot of prose, songs, poetry, drama, and stories were written. Sanskrit literature under the Gupta period served as a channel for the transmission of numerous ideas in society. 

Epic Poetry

During the Gupta dynasty, epics and poetry carried the imprint of the famous. 

Epic poems were written by Kalidasa, a poet of the period.  “Raghuvansham” and ‘Kumarasambhavam’ were two of the most well-known, while  ‘Ritusamhara’ and ‘Meghadutam’ were also well known.  

Bhartruhari’s  Nitisataka’ ‘Srinagarasataka’ and ‘Bairagyasataka’, Magha’s “Sisupalabadham,” Bharavi’s “Kiratarjuniyam,” Magha’s “Sisupalabadham,” Bhartruhari’s “Srinagarasa” Bhatti’s “Ravanavaddh” or “Bhatti Kavyam,”  were timeless literary pieces. 

The lines found in inscriptions like Udaygiri, Mehrauli, Bhittari pillar and others speak well of the Sanskrit poetry of the time.

Drama

Those composed during the Gupta empire outperformed dramas created during previous periods. 

‘Abhijnana Shakuntalam,’ by Kalidasa, is a timeless drama for all eternity.

‘Vikramorvashiyam’ and ‘Malavikagnimitram ‘are two other plays written by Kalidasa. 

Bhasa was a brilliant dramatist who wrote timeless works such as ‘Madhyamaviyogo,’ ‘Balacharita,’ ‘Prativa,’ ‘Swapnavasavadattam,’ ‘Urubhanga,’ and ‘Panchatantra.’ 

Visakhadatta’s “Mudrarakshasa,” ‘Devi Chandraguptam,’ and ‘Abhisarika Vanchitam.   Sudraka’s timeless masterpiece, ‘Mrichhakatikam,’ made him renowned.

Stories

Prose writing had been an important aspect of Gupta literature.  In the area of storytelling, Vishnu Sharma’s ‘Panchatantram’ was an eternal work. The fact that creatures and birds played major roles in all of the stories is fascinating. It is well-known all across the world. 

During the Gupta dynasty, Dandin’s ‘Dasakumarachairtam’ and Subandhu’s ‘VasaVadatta’ were two additional famous prose works.

Poetics and Grammar 

Poetics/poetry theories emerged during the Gupta dynasty’s golden period. 

Famous literature on poetics includes Dandin’s ‘Kavyadarsha,’ Varahamihira’s Brihatsamhita, and Vamaha’s ‘Kavyalankara.’ 

During the Gupta period, Chandragomin’s ‘Chandra Vyakarana,’ Jainendra’s ‘Vyakarana,’ Katyayana’s ‘Vartika,’ and other two works titled ‘Kashika Vritti’ and “Nyasa’ were notable grammatical texts. 

The ‘amarakosa’ of Amarsimha was an important Gupta lexicon. Other renowned dictionary authors at the time included Dhanwantari, Vararuchi, Katyayana, and Vachaspati.

Treatises

Various philosophical and political treatises were written throughout the Gupta period. 

“Nitisara,” by Kamandaka, was a brilliant work that dealt with state management and a king’s duty to his subjects. 

The ‘Kamasutra’ by Vatsyayana was a wonderful work about the art of love and the complexities of city life. 

During the Gupta period, Narada, Yajnyavakya, Manu, and others created Smriti writings, which were a commentary on the administration and social regulations of the time.

Philosophical works 

During the Gupta dynasty, Indian philosophy achieved its zenith of renown. A work from this time, ‘Shastitantra,’ shed insight on Samkhya philosophy. 

The advancement of Yogic philosophy during the Gupta empire was reflected in Vyasa’s ‘Bhashya.’ Important books on Nyaya Philosophy include  Dharmakirti’s ‘Nyayabindu. nVatsyayana’s ‘Nyaya Bhashya’

Inscriptions 

The Gupta era generated a series of inscriptions that tell eloquently about the period’s literary prowess. The Allahabad pillar inscription was written by Samudragupta’s court poet Harisena during his reign. 

The Mehrauli pillar inscription, which can be located in the Qutb Minar complex in Delhi, dates from the Chandragupta era. So far, it hasn’t corroded. 

The Bhittari pillar inscription, the Udaygiri inscription, and numerous other inscriptions from the historical period allude to the splendour of the people’s literary production.

Smriti Texts 

During the Gupta empire, several works on social law were written.  ‘Yajnyavalkya Smriti,’ ‘Manu Smriti,’ and ‘Narada Smriti’ were among the most prominent of these works. Hindus still use these writings while dealing with societal issues. 

In reality, throughout the Gupta period, there was a flurry of literary activity. Sanskrit literature under the Gupta period – epics, plays, poetry, science writings, Smriti texts, and so on—bloomed. Consequently, the Gupta era is called “the classical era in Sanskrit literature.”

Conclusion

Overall, the Gupta dynasty was a brilliant age in the history of literature, one that saw the development of an elaborate style distinct from the previous basic Sanskrit. There is a larger focus on verse than prose from this time onwards. Sanskrit was the Guptas’ court language, and while the period produced considerable Brahmanical sacred writing, it also generated a few of the earliest secular works. To conclude, the era witnessed the flourishing of Sanskrit literature under the Gupta period.