Appointment with Kalidasa

Author(s): G K Bhatt
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 36

Literary Works
Aja entered the hall in dignity and took his appointed seat. Other kings were already there and every one craned his neck to have a look at Aja. In a little while the professional bards came and sang praises of the royal family; the fragrant smoke of sandal and aguru filled the hall; conches were blown confusing the peacocks with the semblance of thunder-clap; and princess Indumati arrived in the svayamvara-mandapa in a palanquin. There was an immediate excitement among the kings gathered in the hall. One king started whirling the lotus in his hand; another held the jewelled necklace slipping down from his shoulder and turned his neck to have a better look at the approaching figure; one turned his eyes down to his gold foot-stool and drew lines with his big toe on it; another turned to his neighbour to whisper something to him; one tore the Ketaki leaf in this hand inadvertantly; the other rattled the dice in his hand and threw them down; the third was busy adjusting his crown. Indumati was naturally unmindful of these erotic gestures on the part of the prospective suitors. She walked through the row of sofas, a garland. in her hands, accompanied by the bold pratihari, Sunanda, who was familiar with all the suitors. She described each one with all his special points. Indumat! would stop before a king while he was being introduced by Sunanda and then move forward. The particular king's face would be illumined with hope as long as Indumati was standing before him, but it would be plunged in darkness of despair when she moved ahead. In a way Indumati was like a lighted torch moving through the royal road, alternately illumining and throwing into darkness the turrets of the palatial mansions on the side. Indumati could not feel any attraction for the various kings who were introduced to her, except for Aja whom she finally chose and garlanded. In a sense, it was the union of jewel and gold. All then turned towards the city to celebrate the wedding properly. As the couple was driven through the streets, the women in the city rushed to look at the bride and the groom and in their hurry and confu. sion forgot to complete their toilette. The marriage was performed in regal splendour. Aja took his bride with him and started home. The disappointed kings had not uttered a word during the marriage ceremony; but now they combined to block Aja's way and take away Indumat from him by force. Aja gave a stiff fight. He realised, however, that it would take a long time to defeat the combined forces of the opposition and there was also an element of uncertainty about the final cutcome. So, he used the sammohana missile sending his enemies into sleep. He showed with just pride the kings lying in disorderly sleep to his delighted wife and returned home safe and jubilant.
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Raghu was happy with the happiness of Aja and Indumati. The kings of the Raghu family do not like to stick to the throne, particularly when they have a capable son. Raghu decided to use the rest of his life in the practice of yoga for his own salvation; and handing over the kingdom to Aja he repaired to the solitude of a forest. It was hard for Aja to bear the separation from his father; but he was trained in statecraft and did not falter or fail in his kingly duties. Then Raghu