Question

The ‘Kathasaritsagara’ is written by:
1. Kalidasa
2. Bhasa
3. Jayadeva
4. Somadeva

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 4 : Somadeva

The correct answer is Somdeva.    

• The Kathasaritsagara is also known as Ocean of the Streams of Stories is a famous 11th-century collection of Indian legends, fairy tales and folk tales as retold in Sanskrit by Somadeva. 
• While the Kathasaritsagara itself is a compilation of many stories and legends, there is a great emphasis on the story of Udayana and his son.

 

• Somadeva was an 11th century CE writer from Kashmir.
• He was believed to be the court poet to King Ananta of Kashmir.

 

• Kalidasa one of the “nine gems” at the court of the king Vikramaditya of Ujjain. 
• Few works of Kalidasa are
  • Abhjnanashakuntala (“The Recognition of Shakuntala”)
  • Vikramorvashi (“Urvashi Won by Valour”),
  • Malavikagnimitra (“Malavika and Agnimitra”)
  • The epic poems Raghuvamsha (“Dynasty of Raghu”) and Kumarasambhava (“Birth of the War God”); and the lyric “Meghaduta” (“Cloud Messenger”).
• Bhasa is one of the earliest known Sanskrit dramatists of ancient India.
• Jayadeva has written the Sanskrit poem Gita Govinda (“Song of the Cowherd [Krishna]”).