360 



Prannath Pandit — Morals of Kdliddsa. 



[No. 3, 





duty of obedience, o£ which examples are not wanting in the poems of 

 Kalidasa. Sudakshind, advanced in pregnancy, greets her lord by rising from 

 her seat, although it cost her an effort to do so.* Vishnu reclines in the 

 Ocean of milk, on his Serpent-bed, with his feet resting on the gentle lap 

 of Zakshmi.f MenaJcd, queen of the mountain- king, has no objection to 

 give away JJrnd in marriage to Shiva, as devoted wives never take exception 

 to the wishes of the husband. $ At the nuptial rites the officiating priest 

 solemnly preaches to JJrnd implicit obedience as the rule of married life. §. 

 History or Romance will afford but few parallels to the resignation with 

 which S-itd bore her mandate of exile. She said nothing harsh against her 

 husband, who had cast her away for no fault of her own, but only 

 reproached herself, because so much misery argued misbehaviour in a previous 

 existence. She gladly absolves Lahshmana from all blame, as he has only 

 implicitly carried into effect the mandates of his elder. A momentary 

 doubt hangs over her mind, whether scripture or ancestral example warrant- 

 ed Mama's desertion when the flames had testified to her purity. But she 

 instantly recollects herself. Bdma is wise — and could not have done any- 

 thing thoughtlessly. She is only atoning for sins committed in a previous 

 existence. She would therefore enter on a life of penance, in order that, in 

 the next birth, she might have Bdma for her husband, without the risk of 

 cruel separation, [j 



Sitd could bear up with the privation and indignity of exile, when 

 she knew that she still remained the undisputed master of Mama's heart, ^f 

 But how are we to measure the depth of Ausinari's feelings when convin- 

 ced of the love at first sight which Pururavd had contracted for the nymph 

 JJrmshi, and sincerely repenting her harsh behaviour on that score, she 

 makes the sacred promise to her Hero : 



" Whatever nymph attract my lord's regard, 

 " And share with him the mutual bonds of love, 

 " I henceforth treat with kindness and complacency."** 

 To the stupid query of the jester Mdnavaha : 



" What, then, is his majesty indifferent to your grace ?" 

 She replies with dignity : 



" Wise Sir, how think you ; to promote his happiness 



* Eaghu., III. 11. 

 t Eaghu., X. 8. 



% ^^m^mjfK% ^frt <rfw?f fTP I Kumara Sambhava, VI. 86. 

 § Kumara Sambhava, VII. 83. 

 !l Eaghu., XIV. 57—66. 

 f Eaghu., XIV. 87. 

 ** Vikramorvashi, Act III. Wilson's Hindu Theatre, Vol. I., p. 235. 





