JOURNAL 



OF THE 



ASIATIC SOCIETY, 



No. VI.— 1852. 



Analysis of the Raghu Fans'a, a Sanskrit Poem of Kalid&sa. — By the 



Rev. J. Long. 



In reading through this exquisite poem in the original last year, and 

 enjoying that delight which arises from the perusal of genuine poetry, 

 whether the soil that produced it be India or England, I felt strongly 

 the need there is of a guide to popular Sanskrit books, pointing out 

 their chief design and giving an outline of their contents. The names 

 of Mdgha, Bhatti, may sound familiarly to the ear, but where are we 

 to find a programme of their contents ? To meet this desideratum 

 with respect to one book, I here submit an analysis which I made on my 

 perusal of this splendid monument of Kalidasa's genius — it is merely 

 designed to show the drift of the poem and the subjects brought for- 

 ward — as none but a poet can do full justice to a poet's style. It is 

 contributed as a mite to the important cause of Sanskrit literature. 



The poem of Raghu Vans'a celebrates the glories of the race of 

 Rama of the Solar line, while the Mahabharata, the great Indian 

 Epic, presents us with a lively portrait of the varied adventures of the 

 Pandus who gloried in being "the children of the moon. ,, The 

 Raghu Vansa ranks among the Maha Kavyas or six great poems, 

 and has been distinguished for the beauty of its similes and the power 

 of imagination displayed by the Indian Shakspeare, Kalidasa, who 

 exemplifies in his writings the truth of Coleridge's remark " the great 

 book of nature has been the music of gentle and pious minds in 

 all ages." 



No. LVI, — New Series. 3 l 



