Question

Which ONE of the following female characters does not figure in the works by Kalidasa?

• A. Urvashi
• B. Malvika
• C. Vasavdutta
• D. Shakuntala

Hint:

To master questions on classical literature, create a simple table matching major authors (like Kalidasa, Bhasa, Bhavabhuti, Shudraka) with their most famous works and the main characters of those works. This makes recall much faster.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The question requires identifying the female protagonist who is not a character in any of the major plays written by the classical Sanskrit writer, Kalidasa.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Let's examine the heroines of Kalidasa's three famous plays:
\[\begin{array}{rl} \bullet & \text{Urvashi is the celestial nymph and heroine of Kalidasa's play Vikramōrvaśīyam. } \\ \bullet & \text{Malvika is the princess and central character of the play Mālavikāgnimitram. } \\ \bullet & \text{Shakuntala is the famous heroine of Kalidasa's most renowned play, Abhijñānaśākuntalam. } \\ \bullet & \text{Vasavadatta is the heroine of the Sanskrit play Svapnavasavadattam (The Dream of Vasavadatta). However, this play was written by the playwright Bhasa, not Kalidasa. } \\ \end{array}\] Therefore, Vasavdutta is the character who does not appear in a work by Kalidasa.

Step 3: Final Answer:
The correct answer is Vasavdutta.