The So‑Called Sanskrit Plays
Summary
K.R. Chandra’s essay 'The So‑Called Sanskrit Plays' challenges the conventional classification of many classical Indian dramas as 'Sanskrit' plays. The author notes that ancient treatises like the Nāṭyaśāstra do not use this term and that most so‑called Sanskrit plays contain large quantities of Prakrit dialogue. In the drama Ācārya Śūdraka’s 'Mṛcchakaṭikā', for example, the first three acts are predominantly in Sanskrit while later acts are mainly in Prakrit, demonstrating that these works could equally be labelled Prakrit dramas. Chandra argues that historians of literature should include such plays in accounts of Prakrit literature and that universities should teach Sanskrit, Pali, Prakrit and Apabhraṣa together rather than in isolation. He presents comparative tables showing the percentage of Sanskrit and Prakrit in various plays and contends that the mixture of languages reflects social diversity and artistic flexibility in early Indian theatre.
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Conclusion
Chandra concludes that labelling mixed‑language dramas as 'Sanskrit plays' is misleading because they contain substantial Prakrit dialogue. He urges scholars to adopt an integrated approach to Sanskrit and Prakrit literature and to revise literary histories accordingly. The essay highlights how linguistic diversity in drama reflects the sociolinguistic realities of ancient India