Option b is the correct answer. In Sanskrit plays written during the Gupta period, women and Sudras speak Prakrit, while men and upper-class characters speak Sanskrit. This was done to reflect the social and linguistic diversity of the Indian society and to create a contrast between the refined and the rustic characters. Some of the famous Sanskrit playwrights who used Prakrit in their plays were Kalidasa, Bhasa, Shudraka, and Vishakhadatta. Prakrit was derived from Sanskrit, the classical and literary language of ancient India, but was simpler and more natural. Important Tips Pali is a Prakrit dialect that was used in early Buddhism. It is the language of the Pali Canon, the collection of Buddhist scriptures. Sauraseni is a Prakrit dialect that was spoken in the region of Saurashtra in northwestern India. It was the language of many of the Sanskrit plays that were written during the Gupta period.