

866 



Prannath Pandit— Morals of Kalidasa. 



[No. 3, 



RaqTiu's race never disappointed an expectant even at the cost of life itself.* 



Hospitality. — Hospitality is not a rare virtue in the works of Kalidasa. 

 DiUpa and his attendants are first hospitably received, and it is not until 

 they have recovered from the fatigues of the journeyf that any questions 

 are asked. Rag7iu,% too, practises the same behaviour towards Kcmtsa. 

 JBhoja's hospitality to Aja was such that, when they entered the capital, 

 the host looked as guest and the guest as master of the household. § We 

 are told in the Kumdra Sambhava\\ that great men take even inferior 

 refugees under their special protection. 



Friendship.— Friendship is placed by the poet on the widest basis. ^f 

 The most casual occurrence may lay its foundation. The attachment of the 

 celestial nymphs to TIrvasM is full of affection and sympathy. 



Politico-Military Morality. Conquest. Chivalry.— Kalidasa' s 

 military morality comprised conquest for its own sake. His conquerors are 

 always satisfied with formal submission and their greatest glory is to reinstate 

 fallen foes. ** His warriors have chivalry enough to restrain them from 

 taking undue advantage of an opponent's weakness.f f The sage councillors 

 of Baghu laid before him plans both honest and dishonest, for the encom- 

 passing of his ends, but he disdained to take advantage of the latter, and 

 relied on honesty as the best policy. %% Atithi's martial policy was guided 

 by the same principles. §§ Kalidasa appreciated the intimate correlation 

 which exists between prudence and valor. Valor without prudence, he 

 justly remarks, is but animal ferocity, and prudence without valor, is but 

 another name for cowardice. [| || 



Kingly virtues. — Kalidasa could rise to just conceptions of political 

 morality. His kings are mild taxers and take but to expend on proper 

 objects.^"*}]" They are no respecters of persons, but impartial dealers out 

 of rewards and punishments. ** m They never abused the rigor of the law 

 for private purposes, and presided personally over the administration of jus- 

 tice.f ff They are as affectionate fathers to their subjects.^ %% A Bdjd does 



* Baghu., X. 2. 

 f Baghu., I. 58. 



Baghu., V. 2, 3. 



Baghu., V. 62. 



I. 12. 



Kumara Samhhava, V. 39 ; Baghu. II. 58. 



Baghu., IV. 35, 37, 43, 64. VIII. 9. IX. 14. XL 



Baghu., VII. 47. 



§ 

 11 



ir 

 ** 



tt 



U Baghu., IV. 10. 

 §§ Baghu., XVII. 69. 

 IHI Baghu., XVII. 47. 



Baghu., I. 18, 26. VIII. 7. 



Baghu., I. 6, 25. IV. 8. IX. 6. 



Baghu., VIII. 18. 



Baghu., I. 24. II. 48. 



9. XVI. 80. XVII. 42, 



ITU 

 *** 



tff 



I 



