Kalidasa The Meghadootam

by Translated by Rajendra Tandon

Kalidasa - Who some scholars believe wrote somewhere in the first century AD-wrote poems of epic proportions and is regarded as one of the most outstanding writers of classical Sanskrit.

Known to be an ardent worshipper of Lord Shiva, Kalidasa wrote his plays and poems largely based around Hindu mythology and philosophy. The Meghadootam (The Cloud Messenger) - in many ways the finest of all of Kalidasa's works and certainly one of the masterpieces of world literature - is, however, an original tale.

The plot is simple: A Yaksha, or attendant, of Kubera, god of wealth, has been sent into year-long exile for neglecting his duties. Pining for his beloved, he spots a cloud hugging the mountain top and requests it to convey a message of consolation to his languishing beloved while on its course.

In the process of relating the tale, Kalidasa uses images of unvarying freshness, perceptively conveying the emotions of the despondent Yaksha. Kalidasa's language is fluid and lyrical, making The Meghadootam an unparalleled work in Sanskrit literature.