1876.] 



Prannath Pandit— Morals of Kdliddsa. 



367 



not deserve the name if he be not— ^^jf?r^^«r, — gladdener of his subjects.* 

 To his being void of avarice the people owed their wealth ; to his protection 

 they were indebted for whatever deeds of virtue they performed in peaceful 

 leisure ; the king was their father in being their instructor and guide, the 

 king was their son inasmuch as he was the wiper of their woes.f 



Self-abnegation.— The kings of Kalidasa had sufficient moral con- 

 victions to subordinate their personal happiness to the general weal. This 

 self-abnegation is held up by the poet in the most prominent light. Dilipa, 

 we are told, loved a good man, though an enemy, and discarded a favourite, 

 when he took to evil ways, with the merciless promptitude which one 

 must shew in excising a snake -bitten finger. $ They had a high idea of 

 their mission as redressers of wrong, and were ready to carry it out even at 

 the risk of their throne and life. So equitable is the behaviour of the 

 model king that every one thinks himself the greatest favourite. § Aja is 

 restrained from following his beloved queen on. the path of flame, not by 

 reason of any fondness for life, but from a sense of what is due to his position 

 as a king. || In the characteristic phraseology of the poet, kings are wedded 

 to the earth. % Their personal pleasures never encroached on their public 

 functions.** 



Loyalty. — This healthy feeling was reciprocated on the part of the 

 people. They took a personal interest in their sovereign. They partici- 

 pated in his good fortunes and sympathised with his losses.f f 



Altruism. — The key-stone of morals — Live for others — did not 

 escape the penetration of Kalidasa. We may quote his own words : 



TO <r^ fw*r %-^^t 



Power, to remove the fears of the afflicted ; great learning, for the 

 cordial reception of the learned ; not only the wealth, but even the good 

 qualities of that King (Aja), were for the benefit of others. 



* Eaghu., IY. 12. VI. 21. 

 f Eaghu., XIV. 23. 

 | Eaghu., I. 28. 

 § Eaghu., VIII. 8. 

 || Eaghu., VIII. 72. 



** Eaghu., VIII 32. XIV. 24. 

 ft Eaghu., II. 73, 74. VIII. 74. 

 U Eaghu., VIII. 31. 



Eaghu., VIII. 83. 



Y Y 



