The correct option is (b) 1 and 2 only.
Explanation
Ashvaghosha was a renowned Buddhist philosopher, dramatist, and poet who played a pivotal role in the evolution of Sanskrit literature and Mahayana Buddhism.Statement 1 is Correct: Ashvaghosha was a contemporary of the Kushana ruler Kanishka (circa 1st–2nd century CE). He adorned Kanishka's court and is traditionally believed to have been the spiritual counsellor to the king. He was also a key figure in the Fourth Buddhist Council held in Kashmir.
Statement 2 is Correct: He composed the Buddhacharita, a famous epic poem (Mahakavya) that narrates the life of Gautama Buddha, from his birth to his enlightenment and parinirvana.
Statement 3 is Incorrect: Ashvaghosha wrote his works primarily in Sanskrit, not Pali. He is celebrated as the first Sanskrit dramatist and a precursor to Kalidasa. His works signify the shift of Buddhist canonical and literary texts from Pali and Prakrit to Sanskrit during the rise of Mahayana Buddhism.
Key Takeaway: Ashvaghosha was a court poet of Kanishka who authored the Buddhacharita in Sanskrit, marking a significant transition in Buddhist literature.