Appointment with Kalidasa

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

Page 57

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Appointment with Kalidasa
from her question and in reply recited on the spot, in a sudden burst of inspiration, an epic, a lyric and another epic : The Kumārasambhava begins with Asti-uttarasyam diśi Devatătmă, Meghaduta with Kaścit kantā-viraha-guruņā and the Raghuvamsa with Vag-artha-viva samprktau.... The princess already pleased in her mind by the return of her long-lost husband was amazed by this spontaneous exhibition of poetic genius and birth of wonderful poetry, and rushed to welcome and hug her husband with love and joy. But the entire experience had worked a far deeper transformation in Kalidasa's life. He regarded the princess as his spiritual guru, and refused to take her as his wife. This was a jolt and a shock to her. When all her pleadings failed to move Kālidāsa from his determination, the rejected wife cursed him that he would die at the hands of a woman for repudiating the love of his devoted wedded wife.
Kālidāsa was sad in his heart. But he left his royal wife and started an independent life of his own. He wrote plays and added to his growing reputation. He won wealth and patronage and was prosperous in his material life. But the curse had corroded his personal and private life, much of which he spent in the company of courtesans. Later, in his old age, he went to see his old friend Kumāradāsa, the author of the epic poem Jänakiharaṇa, who lived in Larkā. But in stead of going to his friend's house he stayed with a prostitute. Now, the king of Sinhaladvipa (Lankā, Ceylon) had announced a substantial reward to any poet who would complete a metrical couplet by composing a second line to the one given. It is possible that Kumāradāsa himself might have thought of this trick and persuaded his king to act on it in order to trace Kālidasa's whereabouts, whose arrival in the island was somehow known but not the place where he chose to remain in hiding. The first line of the verse given for completion was : Kamale kamalotpattiḥ śrüyate na tu drsyate (It is heard that a lotus arises out of a lotus, but no (instance) has been seen). No poet could come forward to complete the verse and claim the reward. Kalidasa came to know about all this through the courtesan. He smiled and said to her, ‘My girl, how is it then that two blue lotuses (eyes) have sprung from your face-lotus'? (Bāle, tava mukhambhojāt katham indivara-dvayam). Kālidāsa had completed the verse and beautifully answered the statement in the first line of the couplet. The courtesan did not know the real identity of Kālidasa. But she was enticed by the sudden prospect of winning fame and the greater and certain prospect of winning the reward. She decided to do away with Kālidāsa, got him killed, and went to the royal court to claim the reward. Kumāradāsa suspected foul play, because he was sure that none but Kālidāsa had the genius to complete the verse. When the courtesan was severely questioned under threat of punishment she confessed to all that happened. Kumāradāsa was grieved beyond consolation at the tragic death of his dear friend. The story is that he threw himself on the burning pyre when Kalidāsa's mortal remains were cremated and ended his own life. It is said that the place of cremation is still shown to tourists at Lankā. The curse given by the princess was somehow fulfilled.