|
|||||||
|
|
|
|||||
|
|
|||||||
|
(The Cloud Messenger) by Summarised by Chandra Holm In classical sanskrit literature the Meghaduta is considered as "a priceless lyrical gem" (Kale). Meghaduta relates the story of a Yaksha (Yakshas are superhuman beings who are the servants of Kubera, the god of wealth- Kubera is also called Yaksheswara -. They guard Kubera's gardens and wealth "Yakshyate Pujyate iti Yakshaha"), who is living in exile on the mountains of Ramagiri and on seeing a cloud sends a message of his love to his beloved wife, whom he had to leave behind in the city of Alaka. Because the cloud is asked here to bear the important message of love, this lyrical work is titled, the Meghaduta - the cloud messenger. There are three main reasons why I like, particularly, this work of Kalidasa: (1) The greatness of Kalidasa as a san-skrit poet is evident in each and every verse of this work in the way the beauty of the sankrit language is made evident. (2) His love of nature, his profound imagination, his deep un-derstanding of human heart and his capacity to interweave the beauty of flora and fauna with human emotions impart each verse of Meghaduta a haunting beauty. It is as if each verse is a miniature painting in itself. (3) Both history and mythology come alive in Kalidasa's lyrics. By using just a couple of words, Kalidasa recreates for his reader well known stories from Indian mythology. It is as if with the excuse of writing the lyrical work Meghaduta, Kalidasa wanted to immor-talize various places and scenes, which he had once known and which he had come to love (Kale). All the above mentioned points are evident in the very first verse of Meghaduta in which it looks as if each single word was very carefully chosen and aptly used: (#1 / Leonard Nathan) Shapenastangamitamahima varshabhogyena bhartuhu yakshachakre janakatanayasnanapunyodakeshu snighdhacchayatarushu vasati ramagiryashrameshu "A certain Yaksha banished for a year because of his misdeeds, from his master whose curse deprived him of his supernatural powers, for whom the separation from his beloved was unbear-able, made his dwelling among the hermitages on the mountain Ramagiri, whose waters were made holy by the daughter of Janaka by bathing in them and where the trees cast a deep and rich shade." |