Consider the following statements regarding the poet Ashvaghosha: 1. He lived in the court of the Kushana ruler Kanishka. 2. He composed a biography of the Buddha known as the Buddhacharita. 3. He wrote his works primarily in Pali. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Consider the following statements regarding the poet… - NCERT Class 6 History MCQ

NCERT Class 6 History — Chapter 9: Traders, kings and pilgrims

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Consider the following statements regarding the poet Ashvaghosha:

He lived in the court of the Kushana ruler Kanishka.
He composed a biography of the Buddha known as the Buddhacharita.
He wrote his works primarily in Pali.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

NCERT textbook question

From NCERT Our Past -1 · Page 103

Options

A1 only
B1 and 2 only
C2 and 3 only
D1, 2 and 3

Did you get this right?

Solution

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.

Your note

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