Appointment with Kalidasa

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

Page 70

Glimpses of Personality
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Duşyanta recognises in Sarvadamana his own son born of Sakuntalā. He wants to pull the boy in his embrace and fondle him. But the little Sarvadamana complains to his mother, Mother see, this stranger is embracing me calling me his son ! Even when he is assured that the relationship is true, Sarvadamana tells indignantly to Dusyanta, 'No, Duşyanta is my father, not you!'53 Who will not be moved by this delicious humour arising out of dramatic irony and innocence ?
The humorous thrusts of the Vid Uşakas of Kalidasa at the royal heroes are not merely fun-producing; the bite, ridicule and fun in the remarks of the Viduşakas are a revealing searchlight on the private life of ancient kings. The Vidūşaka in his motley dress appears to be a real critic of life.
But one can always make fun of others. The crucial test of humour is the abi. lity to laugh at oneself; and it requires a real playfulness and a broad mind. It appears that Kalidasa had this ability. But as the Sanskrit writers rarley speak about themselves it is difficult to connect any humorous piece personally with an author. The evidence would be, if any, only indirect. The Viduşakas of Kalidasa while poking fun at others do not fail to ridicule themselves. Gautama and Mänavaka admit easily that they resemble monkies.54 Māņavaka asks Purūravas, 'Is Urvasi as incom; parable in beauty as I am in ugliness 756 The ability to laugh at oneself is seen at its delicious best in Siva of the Kumarasambhava. Siva comes disguised as a Brahmin student in order to test Pārvati's love and devotion; and in speaking to her the fun he makes of the appearance of Śiva, his dress or rather lack of it and his ornaments, his habitat, his riding a bullock, and the laughter it would evoke when Pārvati would ride behind him in the wedding procession, has no comparison. Siva is the favourite deity of Kālidāsa, When we find Śiva here ridiculing himself, as no one else could have done, we feel that Kālidāsa would never have hesitated to laugh at himself. Such a free humorous attitude, a real playfulness and the largeness of heart that goes with it must, therefore, be regarded as the genuine traits of Kalidasa's personality,
(5) The image that Kālidāsa's literature creates is that of a poet rich in intellectual equipment, exceedingly sensitive to beauty in all forms, a lover of life, cheerful and playful in his outlook. At the same time it appears that Kālidāsa prefers to close his eyes at the dreadful and bitter in life. It is possible that royal patronage, comfortable and happy life, naturally pleasant temperament and such other factors may have limited his experiences, shutting off the furious and the dreadful in life and in nature from him. Whether the cause is environmental or mental, it is true nevertheless that Kalidasa is prone to softness and tranquillity.
The descriptions of rivers, mountains and other objects in nature in Kalidasa's literature are charming and pleasant. A mountain is a rest resort in the Meghadūta.