English
The closing speech of the drama would seem to shew that the Musalmans were already masters of India when this play was composed. Its chief interest lies in the fact that it refers to the political revolution by which Chdnakya raised Chan- dragupta on the throne of the Magadhas about 320 J 5. C. The contrast between the character of Ch&nakya who is scheming, vindictive, violent, and inexorable, and that of R&kshasa who is generous, straightforward, noble, and faithful, is finely drawn. The play of Veni Sanhdra is attributed to Bhatta N&riyana who is said to have been one of the Brdhmans who came on Adisur's invitation from Kanouj to Bengal. ManyBrdhmans in Bengal still claim descent from the author of this piece. The subject is taken from the Mah&bh&rata. Draupadi when lost by Yudhisthira at dice was dragged in the public assembly by DuhsAsana by her Veni or braided Digitized by 428 PAURANIK PERIOD. [BOOK V. hair, and she resolved that her hair would remain dishevelled until that insult was revenged. The insult was revenged when Bhima killed Duryodhana, and Draupadi's hair was bound up again. There are passages which are vigorous, but on the whole the play is harsh in style and rude in execution, and it belongs obviously to a period not very long before the Mahommedan conquest of India. Digitized by Google CHAPTER XII. POETRY. The name of Kalidasa stands foremost in poetry as in drama. There is a series of Mahdk&vyas or short epics in Sanscrit belonging to the period of which we are now speaking, and the two best of them are Kalida- sa's. One is called Raghuvansa or the race of Raghu, and the other is the Kumdra Samb/iava or the birth of Kum<ira, the war god. The first is a long account of the royal race of Ayo- dhya, beginning with the founder of the dynasty and ending with the last kings of Rama's race. The subject is one more suited for history than for poetry, but the genius of the poet enlivens the whole story. Scenes from the life of king after king are painted with all the skill of a great master ; the descriptions are always rich and spirited and often rise to true poetry ; and the reader remains from the first to the last under the spell of Kalidisa's rich and superb fancy, and his inimitable sweetness of versification. One of the happiest and most remarkable passages in the whole work is that in which R£ma, after winning back SitA from Ceylon, travels through the air in a celes- Digitized by Google 430 PAURANIK PERIOD. [BOOK V. tial car all the way to Ayodhyl All India with her rivers and forests and mountans and the blue waters of the ocean lie below, and R4ma points out the different places to his gentle and loving consort. Apart from the beauty of the passage, it is interesting as giving us some notion of the Geography of India as known to the literary men of Ujjayini in the 6th century A. D. In our opinion KdlidAsa takes a bolder flight in his Kum&ra Sambhava. Here he does not narrate the his- tory of a race of kings, but paints from the inexhausti- ble storehouse of his imagination the love of Umd for the great Siva, and their happy union. Umk was born the daughter of the deity of the Himalaya mountains, and a sweeter child never saw the light. Blest was that hour, and all the world was gay, When Mena's daughter saw the light of day. A rosy glow filled all the brightening sky, And odorous breexe came sweeping softly by, Breathed round the hill a sweet unearthly strain, And the glad heavens poured down their flowery rain. Griffith's Translation. The early years of the gentle maiden are described with exquisite grace and sweetness ; but a great future awaits her. The gods intend her as a bride to the mighty Siva, for unto them will be born a child who will lead the gods to victory against the Asuras. Siva is now engaged in pious contemplation'in the Himalaya mountains, and it is arranged that the youthful UrnS Digitized by Google CHAP. XII.] POETRY. will wait on the mighty god as a handmaiden, and look to all his needs. We can remember nothing lovelier and fresher in the creations of fancy than the image of Um& clad in chaste garments and decorated with flowers, attending on the great god in his devotions, collecting flowers for him, and doing him due obeisance. In doing obeisance she stooped so low That from her hair, , Dropped the bright flower that starred the midnight there. Griffith. And Siva pleased with her homage blessed her, Surely thou shalt be Blessed with a husband who loves none but thee. Griffith. Everything might have gone on smoothly to the de- sired end if the mischievous god of love had not inter- fered. He marks the moment of Siva's weakness and lets go his unerring shaft Let the poet narrate the effect on the hermit-god Siva. Like the moon's influence on the sea at rest, Came passion stealing over the hermit's breast, While on the maiden'i lip that mocked the dye Of ripe red fruit he bent his melting eye. And oh ! how showed the lady's love for him, The heaving bosom and each quivering limb ! Like young Kadambas, when the leaf buds swell At the warm touch of spring they love so well, But still with downcast eyes she sought the ground, And durst not turn their burning glances round. Digitized by Google 432 PA U RAN IK PERIOD. [BOOK V. Then with strong effort Siva lulled to rest The storm of passion in his troubled breast. And seeks, with angry eyes that round him roll, Whence came the tempest over his tranquil soul. He looked and saw the bold young archer stand, His bow bent ready in his skilful hand, Drawn towards the eye, -his shoulder well depressed, And the left foot thrown forward as a rest Then was the hermit-god 10 madness lashed, Then from his eye red flames of fury flashed. So changed the beauty of that glorious brow, Scarce could the gare support its terror now. Hark ! heavenly voices sighing through the air : • Be calm great Siva, O be calm and spare !' Alas ! the angry eye's resistless flashes Have scorched the gentle king of love to ashes ! Griffith. Love's bride laments the death of her lord, and Uma in mortification and grief retires into a wood and begins penances and prayer. The poet launches again into a description of the gentle and tender girl subjecting her- self to hard penances unsuited to her frame. Summer is passed amid scorching fires, — in autumn she remains exposed to the rains,— and the blasts of winter see her still unshaken in her purpose. A young hermit comes to enquire the reason of these severe penances undertaken by a young and tender damsel. Uma's maidens explain to him the cause, but the hermit can scarcely believe that so gentle a creature should be in love with so unloveable a god as Siva, who Digitized by Go CHAP. XII.] POETRY. 433 remains smeared with ashes and wanders about in i funeral places. Impatient Uma listened ; the quick blood Rushed to her temples in an angry flood. Griffith, She explains to the unmannerly hermit with passion- ate eloquence the glories of the great deity whom none knows and none can comprehend, and she rises to depart from the place in anger and scorn. She turned away, with wrath her bosom swelling Its vest of bark in angry pride repelling,— But sudden lo, before her wondring eyes In altered form she sees the sage arise ; Tis Siva's self before the astonished maid In all his gentlest majesty arrayed ! Griffith. Yes, it is Siva himself who had refused to be forced into love, but is now propitiated and pleased with Umd's penances, and now humbly craves a return of his affec- tion from Um& the mountain maid. Among the shorter poems of K&lid&sa the best and sweetest is the Megltaditta or the cloud messenger. The story is simple. A Yaksha is banished by royal order from his home for being too fond of his wife and neglecting his duties ; and in his exile he gazes on the dark cloud of the rainy season and bids it carry a message of love to his dear beloved at home. The lover indicates the way by which the cloud should proceed, and the poet describes the various parts of India from the Vindyhas to the Himalaya mountains in R. C. D., A. I.— III. 28 Digitized by Google 434 PAURANIK PERIOD. [BOOK V. verse, which, for richness of fancy and melody of rythm, has never been excelled in the literature of the world. On Naga Nadi's banks thy waters shed, And raise the feeble jasmin's languid head. Grant for a while thy interposing shroud, To where those damsels woo the friendly cloud ; As while the garland's flowery stores they seek, The scorching sunbeams tinge their tender cheek, The ear hung lotus fades, and vain they chase, Fatigued and faint, the drops that dew the face. What though to northern climes thy journey lay, Consent to track a shortly devious way. To fair UjjainCs palaces and pride, And beauteous daughters turn awhile aside ; Those glancing eyes, those lightning looks unseen, Dark are thy days, and thou in vain hast been. * * • * Behold the city whose immortal fame Glows in Avantis or Visala's name ! Renowned for deeds that worth and love inspire,. And bards to paint them with poetic fire : The fairest portion of celestial birth, Of Indra's paradise transferred to earth. The last reward to acts austerest given, The only recompense then left to heaven. Here as the early zyphcrs waft along, In swelling harmony, the woodland song. They scatter sweetness from the fragrant flower, That joyful opens to the morning hour ; With friendly zeal they sport around the maid Who early courts their vivifying aid, And cool from Sipra's jclid waves embrace Each languid limb and enervated grace. Wilson's translation. gitized by Googl CHAP. XII.] POETRY.