Appointment with Kalidasa

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

Page 56

Glimpses of Personality
the young boys as his pupils. The only condition stipulated for the meeting was that the 'pupils' would answer the questions put by the princess, and if the answers did not satisfy the princess then only the 'guru' would speak to her. The princess agreed. The minister then dressed Kalidasa elegantly for this special occasion, instructed the boys properly and repeated his warning to Kālidasa. With complete preparation the meeting took place in the royal court. The result could be easily predicted. The questions the princess asked, from whatever science or art, were adequately answered by one boy or the other who was perfectly trained in that particular branch. The princess was impressed by the knowledge and skill of these boys and naturally supposed that their 'guru' must be an exceptional young man, though the 'guru' had no occasion to open his mouth. The 'guru' or Kalidāsa looked gorgeous in his clothes and ornaments and in his handsome appearance looked like a prince. Such a combination of rich personality and wide learning was indeed rare. The princess was overjoyed and consented to marry this young, handsome suitor, The wedding was duly celebrated.
However, when the couple met for the first time in the royal bedchamber, the boy Kalidasa, left alone to manage for himself, was completely bewildered. The princess suspected something wrong and piled her husband with questions; but the young husband would not open his mouth to speak. The princess lifted a sword from the corner of the bed and threatend to kill the boy if he did not speak and tell her everything. Frightened beyond his wits, the boy narrated the whole story in his native, unpolished language. The princess was dumbfounded; then anger seized her, and also terrible shame. She was his wife, and could not do anything to her husband. She asked him to leave the palace, and not to show his face to her unless and untill he accomplished something in his life and acquired some learning.
The incident and particularly the dismissal affected the young Kālidāsa very deeply. He went straight to the temple of Kāli, sat down before the idol, praying for enlightenment, and vowing that he would cut his head and offer it to the goddess were she not to answer his prayer. The sincerity and devotion of the boy moved Kali and she placed her hand of blessing on the bowed head of the boy. He was endowed with knowledge and poetic genius as a favour of Kāli, and came to be known thence as Kālidasa or a devoted servant of Kāli. Kālidāsa then went to Kāśi, the home of all learning and lore, and soon mastered many śästras and arts.
Returning from Banaras Kālidāsa first went to pay a call of gratitude to the princess, who had remained faithful to her husband, sorrowing over her tragic fate but acting according to religion like a devoted Hindu wife. When she saw Kālidāsa she wondered whether the years had at least turned his rustic speech into the language of the polished and cultured gentry. She asked him, 'Is there any imr ment in your speech'-Asti kaścit väg-višeşaḥ ? Kālidāsa picked up each si