The famous collection of animal fables known as the Panchatantra was originally composed during which historical period in India?

Introduction / Context:
The Panchatantra is a classic Indian collection of interlinked animal fables that has influenced storytelling traditions across the world. It was translated into many languages and travelled to West Asia and Europe. For exam purposes, it is important to associate the Panchatantra with the correct broad historical period in India, because that places its composition within a particular cultural and intellectual milieu.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The work in question is the Panchatantra, a collection of didactic fables.
• The options list the Maurya, Gupta, Delhi Sultanate and Kushana periods.
• We assume the learner knows that the text is ancient but not as old as the Vedas and predates the medieval Islamic period.
• The question seeks a general timeframe rather than a precise year.

Concept / Approach:
Most scholars believe that the core form of the Panchatantra took shape roughly between the 3rd and 5th centuries CE, which broadly coincides with the Gupta period. The Gupta age is often called a golden age of Sanskrit literature and learning, making it a suitable context for such a sophisticated didactic work. The Maurya period is earlier and is better known for political unification under Ashoka. The Kushana period overlaps more with northwestern dynasties and Gandhara culture, while the Delhi Sultanate period is medieval and clearly too late for the original Panchatantra. Thus, the best match among the options is the Gupta period.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Place the Panchatantra in the timeline of Sanskrit narrative literature, where it is considered an early classical text. Step 2: Recall that many sources estimate its composition between the 3rd and 5th centuries CE. Step 3: Recognise that this time frame aligns closely with the Gupta period in northern India. Step 4: Note that the Maurya Empire (3rd century BC) is significantly earlier and is not usually associated with the Panchatantra's emergence. Step 5: Understand that the Delhi Sultanate period begins much later, from the 13th century CE onwards, clearly after the Panchatantra was composed. Step 6: Conclude that the Gupta period is the historically appropriate choice.

Verification / Alternative check:
Histories of Sanskrit literature and introductions to the Panchatantra routinely place its composition in or around the Gupta era, even though the exact date and authorship (often attributed to Vishnu Sharma) are debated. They emphasise the high level of Sanskrit prose and the didactic nature of the stories, which fit well with Gupta period intellectual life. No standard source claims that the Panchatantra originated in the Delhi Sultanate, Kushana or Maurya periods in the same clear way, reinforcing the Gupta association.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Maurya period: Too early and not strongly linked by literary scholarship to the Panchatantra's composition.
• Delhi Sultanate period: Many centuries later than the earliest known references to the Panchatantra and incompatible with its classical Sanskrit style.
• Kushana period: While culturally important, it is not the commonly accepted period of composition for this text.

Common Pitfalls:
Learners sometimes assume that all ancient Sanskrit texts must date back to the Maurya period or even earlier Vedic times. Others may misplace the Panchatantra in a very late medieval context because of its widespread translations during Islamic rule. To avoid such confusion, remember the key association that the Panchatantra, in its original Sanskrit form, is generally linked with the Gupta period of classical Indian literature.

Final Answer:
The Panchatantra was originally composed during the Gupta period of Indian history.