Vikramorvasiyam of Kalidasa

by C.R. Devadhar

The romance of Pururavas and Urvashi, which Kalidasa has dramatized in the Vikramorvashiyam, is one of the most ancient and popular stories. One can find it recorded in the form of dialogue in the Rigveda, which is regarded as the oldest literary monument. And although, in the course of its transmigration of thousands of years in Indian literature, it has undergone several changes in single points of details, it has remained almost the same in all its essential features-so profound has been its hold upon the Indian mind. The text of the present edition of the Vikramorvashiyam is in the main the same as that of Mr. S.P. Pandit's but with a few variations of readings, obvious corrections and the substitution of a correct orthographic representation of Prakrit words. Of the two main recensions, the translator has followed the Southern recension, but the peculiarities of the Northern recension are not unrepresented; for while all additional stanzas to be found in the first three acts and the fifth are given in the introduction, the fourth act is given in full in an appendix with the additional Apabhramsha passages carefully collected from Pandit's and Pishel's texts. The notes are copious enough and give everything that is essential not only to a student reading for an Arts course but also to a general reader. The introduction deals exhaustively with all essential questions. The translator has drawn upon all available editions and other sources for information in the preparation of this work.