In Sanskrit plays written during the Gupta Period, women and Sudras speak a language known as Prakrit (Option 2). Prakrit was a group of vernacular languages derived from Sanskrit and spoken by the common people in ancient India. It was a simplified form of Sanskrit and was more accessible to the general population.

During the Gupta Period, which lasted from the 4th to the 6th century CE, Sanskrit was the language of the elite, scholars, and upper classes. It was considered the language of high culture, literature, and religious texts. However, in dramatic works, the playwrights wanted to depict a realistic portrayal of different social groups and characters, including women and Sudras.

Sanskrit was typically reserved for the higher-class characters such as kings, scholars, and Brahmins, while Prakrit was used to represent the speech of women and lower-class characters, including Sudras. This differentiation in language usage helped the playwrights create a more authentic and relatable portrayal of diverse characters and their social backgrounds.

Prakrit languages, derived from Sanskrit, were spoken by the common people in different regions of ancient India. These languages had regional variations, and one of the prominent Prakrit languages during the Gupta Period was Sauraseni (Option 4). Sauraseni Prakrit was prevalent in the western region of India, particularly in areas like Gujarat and Rajasthan.

It is important to note that Pali (Option 3) was not commonly used in Sanskrit plays during the Gupta Period. Pali is a language closely related to Prakrit but is primarily associated with Buddhist scriptures and teachings. Pali was used by Buddhist scholars and monks as a medium to propagate the Buddhist doctrine. While Pali had its significance during this period, it was not the language of choice for Sanskrit plays.

To summarize, in Sanskrit plays written during the Gupta Period, women and Sudras speak Prakrit (Option 2), specifically Sauraseni Prakrit (Option 4) in some regional contexts. This choice of language allowed playwrights to present a realistic depiction of characters from various social backgrounds, showcasing the linguistic diversity of ancient India.