42 G. A. Grierson — Some Further Notes on Kalidasa. [No. 1, 



% S^ % 5^ % S^ II 



" He who stays at home in the rainy season, eats little in the autumn, 

 eats his fill in the cold and dewy season, goes abroad in the months of 

 spring, and sleeps in the hot season, is free from disease." The pis'dcha 

 was much pleased at Kalidasa's reply and released him, giving him all the 

 wealth which he had levied from his former victims. 



One cool spring evening when the south wind was blowing softly, and 

 the mango blossoms were nodding on the trees, king Bhoja was walking in 

 his garden, accompanied by Kalidasa and Bhavabhuti. The king, charmed 

 by the graceful motion of the mango blossoms, asked Kalidasa to tell him 

 why they waved so prettily. Kalidasa replied : — 



^ft^%3]?fiT *R^%<Tf ^[er^fHEffr I 



w*rr *pfT*f ff% ^rf% «nftro* f?^ ii 



" ' It is evening, and, lo, I have come from Malaya afar ; I would pass 

 one night in thy house, O graceful one.' When the newly blossomed 

 mango tendril is thus addressed by the wind, she shakes her head, and says 

 'Nay, nay, nay.' " 



The king was pleased at this poetical description, but asked Kalidasa, 

 why the mango said " nay" three times. The latter dared not plead exi- 

 gencies of metre, and being unable to give a plausible excuse, hung his 

 head ashamed. The king then turned to Bhavabhuti, and asked him the 

 same question. Kalidasa's famous rival, giving a different meaning to 

 SRft^fflfTr, which also means a woman who is not " ^rj^TTm", explained 

 that the three-fold repetition referred to the three days of uncleanness 

 which precede the purificatory bathing : as stated thus in the S'uddhi 

 viv elect. 



Bcftij TM**\ ^W ^jj*? ^R^r^-fl II 



" If a woman admit her husband on the first day, she sinks to the 

 level of a chdndali, if on the second day, to that of a leather-worker, and 

 if on the third day, to that of a dliobini ; but on the fourth day she may 

 bathe and admit him." 



There was a famous courtezan at DMra, who loved Kalidasa and was 

 beloved by him in return. She also admitted king Bheja to her favours. 



