Which one of the following books of ancient India has the love story of the son of the founder of Sunga dynasty?

The correct answer is B) Malavikagnimitra, a Sanskrit play by Kalidasa. Its plot is a romance between Agnimitra, son of Pushyamitra Sunga, who founded the Sunga dynasty after the Mauryas, and Malavika, a attendant in the royal household. The play is set at the Sunga court in Vidisha. Kalidasa is generally placed in the Gupta period.

• A) Swapnavasavadatta is by Bhasa. It tells of Udayana of the Vatsa kingdom and his queen Vasavadatta, not any Sunga prince.
• C) Meghadoota is Kalidasa's lyric poem about a Yaksha separated from his beloved. It is not a royal love story and has no Sunga connection.
• D) Ratnavali is a play attributed to Harsha of the Vardhana dynasty. Its love story is between Udayana and Sagarika, again not a Sunga prince.

The core concept is using literature as a source for political history. Sanskrit drama often preserves dynastic details, which is why the Malavikagnimitra is cited for the Sunga court. For Mains, it is a good example of how texts supplement inscriptions in reconstructing early Indian history.

Trap: Aspirants pick Swapnavasavadatta because it is also a famous royal love story by a classical playwright. The question asks for the Sunga prince specifically, and Agnimitra is the link.