Saundarananda: The Poem by Ashvaghosa
The Sanskrit poem 'Saundarananda' was composed by Ashvaghosa, a prominent Buddhist philosopher and poet in the court of Kanishka.
Primary Reference: NCERT Class XII - Themes in Indian History Part I
Archived:
Updated:
Exam Year
1991
Evidence Source
Link ↗Saundarananda was the composition of:
[M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1991]
Detailed Solution & Historical Context
Concept
Ashvaghosa was the first to use the sophisticated Sanskrit 'Kavya' style to promote Buddhist doctrine to the intellectual elite of the Kushan Empire.
Authentic Source Evidence
Ashvaghosa (1st century CE) authored Saundarananda. The poem narrates the story of Nanda, Buddha’s half-brother, who renounces his wife Sundari to seek enlightenment.
Analytical Breakdown
Conceptual Deep Dive & Logic
"What is the primary theme of Saundarananda?"
Examiner's Mindset & Pro-Tip
"Ashvaghosa’s brilliance lay in using 'Kama' (desire) as a literary entry point to lead the reader toward 'Moksha' (liberation)."
Topic Clusters (click to see related topic questions)
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