36 G. A. Grierson—Some Further Notes on Kaliddsa. [No. 1, 
one named “ Dallan Kavi” (ewa_afa).* This man was neither very clever 
nor very ignorant, but was only moderately learned (awa afwa). By 
dint, however, of intrigues he had attained to such promotion, that no 
pandit could approach the king, until he had been examined and passed by 
Dallan Kavi. Dallan naturally abused this power and introduced only the 
most ignorant pandits to the king, sending all who were more learned than 
himself away, re ineffectd. 
Kalidasa wished to be introduced to King Bhoja: but, noticing that all 
the good pandits returned home disappointed, while the bad ones were 
received into favour, he suspected the true nature of the case, and had 
recourse to the following artifice :— 
He set out for Dhara, where King Bhoja reigned, and on the way he 
met three poor ignorant pedagogues, who were bent on the same errand as 
himself, These three had put their heads together to concoct some 
verses which they might recite before the king, but their united 
efforts only brought them as far as the first half of a single anushtubh, 
which was as follows :— 
afwagaarea qa: wgriaeay | 
This being interpreted means “ Like a bone, like a crane, and again 
like a mendicant’s tooth,’’+ but they could get no farther. When they 
saw Kalidasa, they asked for his assistance, and he replied by giving the 
second half of the sloka impromptu, as follows,— 
tsa Wa a alfa: wesatifaa 
the whole sloka then meaning. ‘ (Bright) as ivory, or as the (snowy) 
erane, as the teeth of a mendicant, or as the rays of the autumn moon, is 
thy glory, O King Bhoja,” which incongruous display of metaphor im- 
mensely pleased the three poor pandits. Kalidasa then went on his way 
to Dhara, and dressing himself in very mean attire called to pay his respects 
to Dallan Kavi. He took care, however, to call when Dallan was not at 
home ; and repeated this every day for a week, during which time he made 
himself thoroughly acquainted with all the habits, customs and hours of his 
future patron. 
After the expiration of the week Kalidisa went again to Dallan’s 
house in mean attire, at a time when he was engaged in a ceremony usually 
performed apart from the multitude.{ In spite of this, however, Kalidasa 
* So his name is pronounced and spelt now-a-days; a reference, however, to the 
S’ardila vikridita verse later on will show that it was originally Dalana (awe). 
+ A Sannydsé is not supposed to chew betel-nut and pan. Hence his teeth are not 
discoloured, but retain their pristine whiteness. 
{ a@aa eaaataareuta wea? tl 
