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KALIDAS |
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| 'Raghuvamsha' Kalidasa's second epic is 'Raghuvamsha'. There are nineteen chapters ('sargas') in this poem. The epic describes the history of the kings Dileepa, Raghu, Aja, Dasharatha, Sri Rama, Lava and Kusha. It also deals briefly with the twenty kings from Nala up to Agnivarna.In thebeginning, the poet extols the fine qualities of the kings of Raghu dynasty. The dynasty is a noble one. Those belonging to it have their early education at the right time from distinguished teachers. They are married at the right age and rule justly adhering to 'Dharma' (law of righteousness). As they grew old, they renounced the kingdom in favor of the younger incumbents and led a life of saintly renunciation and ultimately renounced the mortal life by way of 'yoga'. They earned wealth so that they would offer it to the worthy who are in need. They liked to conquer a kingdom for the thrill of success. Culprits were punished. Those kings were ever vigilant, generally un daunted and strove their best to achieve their goal. They ruled a kingdom stretching up to the seashore. They would even drive a chariot right up to the Heavens. The poet asserts that his main aim in writing this poem is to celebrate the ideal royal qualities of the kings of the clan of Raghu and to portray the history of a galaxy of such men. The story begins with king Dileepa. Dileepa, as portrayed by the poet, was a majestic personality. He was impressively built, broad-shouldered, tall. In effect he personified Wshatradharma' (the royal tradition). His intellect matched his physique. That intellect matched his vast learning. His actions were dictated by his superior knowledge and the results were true to his efforts. His consort Sudakshina was an ideal wife worried at not having children; they go to the 'ashram' of the great sage Vashishta who suggests to them that they offer obeisance to Nandini, the calf of the Heavenly Cow Kamadhenu. Accordingly, Dileepa follows Nandini to the forest daily and serves her for twenty-one days. On the last day, a lion attacksNandini and when Dileepa tries to draw an arrow from his bow to kill the beast, lo, his hand gets stuck on the bow. The lion, speaking like human beings, tells him to return to the ‘ashram’, as the cow was his meal. Dileepa thereupon offers his own body as food for the lion. Then the lion disappears. In fact the lion was the creation of Nandini herself to test the king. She blesses him and says he would beget children when he drank her milk. They return to the 'ashram' where the royal couple drink the milk and return to the capital. In due course, Sudakshina gives birth to a son who was named Raghuraja. The poets' description gives us a fine picture of a great king devoted to truth and highest moral and spiritual ideals. The close contact between the kings and sages and the fact that great personalities are born when the heroic king is blessed by a sage whose life is a saga of purity, are narrated memorably. The poet then goes on to tell us the story of Raghu. Even while he was the Prince, he had displayed his prowess byprotecting the horse his father had sent out on a victorious march at the time of conducting an Ashwamedha (a sacrifice featuring a highbred horse). A fierce battle rages between Raghu and the king of the 'Devas' Indra at the time of Dileepa's one hundredth 'Ashwamedha' sacrifice. Impressed by Raghu's heroism, Indra blesses Dileepa to enjoy the fruits of the sacrifice. Thereupon, Dileepa hands over the reigns of the kingdom to his son and goes away to the forest to spend his last days in penance. Raghu defeated several kings and expanded his domain, conducted a great sacrifice called Vishwajit Yaga and then gave away all his worldly riches in charity. At that time, Kautsa, the son of a sage, comes and asks for some money to pay as 'Gurudakshina' (tribute to his guru). But the king had by then donated all his wealth and belongings. The king could only offer him sanctified water from an earthen bowl. When he learnt of the need of the sage's son, he decided to wage a war against Kubera, the God of Wealth, but the latter hastens to aid Raghu and fills his treasury to enable him to fulfil the desire to make the gift to Kautsa. A son is born to Raghu and. is named Aja. He was extremely good-looking and of a tender nature. On coming of age, he goes to the Swayamvara (where the bride choose her groom from amongst several aspirants) of princess Indumati of the province of Vidarbha. As she entered the Swayamvara Hall, her maid Sunanda introduces each prince describing his physical features, heroism and prowess. None appeals to the princess. Sunanda then introduces prince Aja and extols his fine qualities and his illustrious family. Indumati garlands him accepting his hand in marriage. Kalidasa's description of this Swayamvara is a very pleasant one. The princes' descriptions are not overdone, Their physical strength, heroic disposition, riches are all described with absorbing interest. None has been belittled. Indumati does not reject other suitors because of any defects in them.However, each person has a nature distinct to himself, the poet feels, and one cannot reason out why a person particularly falls in love with another. The narrative here shows the poets' high taste, aesthetic awareness of beauty and also a lively light-heartedness. The marriage of Indumati with Aja is performed in a grand manner. But then, the disappointed princes attack them vengefully and fierce battle ensues. Aja defeats all of them and triumphantly returns to his capital with his bride. Raghu instantly recognizes his son's heroism and majesty, gladly hands over the reigns of the kingdom and goes to live in a hermitage on the outskirts of Ayodhya. A father who ascends a seat of renunciation ('Yoga') and a son who ascends the throne -- the stance and actions of the two personalities are narrated with moving lyricism and understanding. The father is guided by sages and the son is assisted by ministers. The former has conquered all the worldly desires in him while the latter has defeated enemies outside. Raghu's life displays a personality that shows how one can achieve that exquisite serenity and peace if only one could concentrate on total devotion to God. Likewise, the pleasures of living a man of sterling qualities can achieve and enjoy are evidenced in the life of Aja. Though both Dileepa and Raghu are great men, we notice a difference in them. As laid down by our learned ancestors, a man should have four goals before him: spiritual awareness or righteousness ('Dharma'), acquisition of wealth ('Artha'), love or a desire for physical pleasure ('Kama'), and ultimately salvation ('Moksha'), Neither the desire to earn wealth nor the urge for pleasures of life is wrong but they should be accompanied by a sense of righteousness. One should try to acquire wealth through moral means; he should earn it in a manner, which does not do any injustice to others. He should spend money for right and good causes. He should not take
to wrong or harmful ways, which may hurt others. He should live a life, which could bring
him salvation when death approaches and seeks to be one with divinity. We see that Kalidasa lists twenty kings belonging to the Raghu dynasty
who ruled after Atithi. 'Raghuvamsha' depicts our ancient, historical culture and tradition. Our ancestors had discussed in detail about such matters as to who could be a good ruler, who is a man of 'tapas' (penance), how one should lead a good, purposeful life and the like. The poet has portrayed diverse characters like Vashishta, Dileepa, Raghu, Aja and others. Agnivarna is an example of a king who could be termed as 'depraved'. |
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