RAS question
The Pallava king Mahendravarman I authored which famous literary work?
Correct answer: (A) Mattavilasa Prahasana.
Mahendravarman I, the Pallava ruler who reigned around 600-630 CE, wrote Mattavilasa-prahasana, a Sanskrit farce also known as The Delight of the Drunkards.
Explanation
Mahendravarman I is linked with the high point of Pallava cultural patronage, not only as a supporter of art and architecture but also as a writer. Encyclopaedia Britannica identifies him as a great patron of art and architecture and states that he wrote plays, including Mattavilasa-prahasana, dated around 620 CE and translated as The Delight of the Drunkards. The exam-relevant literary detail is that it was a Sanskrit farce that satirised certain religious practices. That combination makes option A the precise answer: the work belongs to Mahendravarman I, and its genre and satirical character fit the Pallava court's wider cultural profile.
Why the other options are wrong
- (B) Kiratarjuniyam is not authored by Mahendravarman I; Encyclopaedia Britannica links him with Mattavilasa-prahasana.
- (C) Silappadikaram is not the Sanskrit farce named for Mahendravarman I, who is linked specifically with Mattavilasa-prahasana.
- (D) Manimegalai is not Mahendravarman I's work; Encyclopaedia Britannica names Mattavilasa-prahasana instead.
Concept
This tests the Ancient Indian history link between South Indian dynasties, court culture, and literary works. RAS repeats such pairings because they connect political history with art, architecture, religion, and literature in one compact fact.