The Vakataka–Gupta Age (circa 200–550 A.D.) c7.9

c7.9

But perhaps the greatest force in this direction was the existence of a common *lingua franca* for cultural purposes. Till the 3rd century Prākṛits which still showed only slight variations served this purpose, but their place was soon taken more effectively by Sanskrit, which became the official language of administration, and the favourite medium of expression for poets, philosophers and scientists. It is interesting to note that even the Buddhists and the Jains gave up their predilection for Pāli and Prākṛits and began to write in chaste and classical Sanskrit during our period. Nay, Sanskrit became the *lingua franca* between India and her cultural colonies in Insul-India. When it became the sacred language of the Buddhist also, it began to be studied by the Chinese as well.