Rtusamhara of Kalidasa (Devadhar)
by C.R. Devadhar, Ed.

This is a very glowing tribute to the glories of the six Indian seasons each of which is vividly described in a separate Canto. This poem is a composition belonging to the young days of Kalidasa, when he was yet far from attaining the zenith of maturity of his poetic genius. Yet it depicts in superb style and diction the mood and rhythm typical of each season, which find their unmistakable echo in the minds of the young. The emotional harmony between a particular mood and a particular aspect of the season in question emanates from each piece of description. While admitting that this is one of the noblest forms of tribute to nature, attention may be drawn to some aspects of construction of the poem not always well appreciated. It must be remembered that the poet is describing the Indian cycle of six seasons which is usually supposed to begin with Vasanta and progress through Grisma, Varsa, Sarad, Hemanta and Sisira. For the purpose of this poem, it seems that the opening description of arduous summer helps the poet to depict in some kind of progression the welcome and unwelcome features of each subsequent season until he can put a fitting finale to his work in his tribute to the most welcome season of spring.