Yasyatyadya

Kalidasa has been universally acknowledged as the highest star in the firmament of Indian Poetry. Tenderness in the expression of feeling and richness of creative fancy has assigned to him a lofty place among the poets of all nations. Sir Monier Willaims says ‘Of all Indian dramatists and indeed of all Indian poets the most celebrated is Kalidasa, the poetical merit of whose " शाकुंतलं " is so universally admitted that any remarks on this head would be superfluous’. Today, we will talk on his masterly portrayal of feelings of human values and the depth of love and care in indian social system in enriching the poetics.  We will take one verse from the IVth chapter of  अभिज्ञानशाकुंतलं, the best among his creations. Here the master dramatist has depicted the love of an ascetic KANWA towards his foster child Shakuntala, the deserted devine beauty at her birth and reared up in the forest by him while bidding adieu to her while she was led for her husband's house.

यास्यत्यद्य शकुंतलेति हृदयं
                 संस्पृष्टमुत्कंठया
कंठ: स्तम्भित बाष्पवृत्तिकलुषः
                 चिन्ताजडं दर्शनम् ,
वैक्लव्यं मम तावदीदृशमहो
                  स्नेहादरण्यौकसः
पीड्यन्ते गृहिणः कथं नु तनया
                  विश्लेष दु:खैर्नवैः ॥

The sage Kanva describes his emotions when Sakuntala is being sent to her husband’s place. He says:
“The very thought of separation from Sakumtala fills my heart with grief. My throat is choked by the tears I try to hold back. My eyes have become inert as I am deep in thought. If this is the depth of sorrow of a forest-dweller like me because of my attachment, then how much will be the mental agony of those householders at the prospect of separation from their newly wed daughters.?”

Here, we are appalled to see the depth of understanding of the human love and care towards the daughter at the time of bidding farewell to her for ever. Indian joint family system with its complex and intimate relationship with the members within the family has been dissected thread bare in this verse. A lot of social complexities has been depicted in such small verse which would require hours to analyse. The following points may be noted...
1.  A girl child was treated as the core of the family system who was loved by all as a prized member...It will be gare to say the idol of love and care in the family system. She was trained with all types of education including, art, science to lead a family in future at her husband's house.
2. She was treated with respect as the property to be offered in oblation... The most pricious member who would work as an ambassador between to society...To represent one culture at another society.
3. The ascetics dwelling in forests seeking salvation through harsh way of living never failed to rear a deserted baby into full womanhood with all love and care like a householder.
4. A girl child could win the hearts of an ascetic and forest dwellers through her human virtues.
5. The poet depicts the attachment within the members of a household and the extent to which they suffer while departing their sweet daughter for ever to a house of her husband.
6. The depiction of mental agony with its physical impact through words is unbelievably touchy. The throat is choked from withholding the tears..Ah...What a feeling !!
Eyes becoming inert...Not seeing anything although open...The psychological condition of a grief strike father who has not begotten the child...Only fostering her...Ah...Painted through limited words... Imagining the condition of a distant householder who has given birth and reared the girl child with blood and flesh... Ah...It is possible only with Kalidasa...

Now, friends...Please enjoy the magic of sanskrit language and its wealth.

©® SACHIDANANDA MISHRA