Sri Aurobindo

The Harmony of Virtue

Early Cultural Writings — 1890-1910

Kalidasa

A Proposed Work on Kalidasa¹

Chapter I
Kalidasa's surroundings

Chapter II
Kalidasa and his work

The Malavas — the three ages, Valmiki²...Vyasa... Kalidasa... — surrounding circumstances — materialism³ and sensuousness... the historic method... psychological principles of criticism... variety of Kalidasa's work... probable chronological succession of his works

Chapter III
The Seasons

Chapter IV

The House of Raghu; its scope and outline; nature of the poem; descriptive epic of later Hindu civilisation; its limitations. Qualities of verse, diction, similes. Description. Sentiment; pathos and eloquence. Relative merits of later and earlier cantos. Comparison of Kalidasa's pathos and Bhavabhuti's

Chapter V

The Cloud-Messenger. Kalidasa's treatment of the supernatural... substance of the poem... chastened style... perfection of the harmony... moderation and restraint... pathos and passion

Chapter VI

The Drama before Kalidasa; elements of Hindu drama... the three plays, studies of one subject

Chapter VII

The Agnimitra — its plot; perfection of dramatic workmanship; Kalidasa's method of characterisation; the characters; dramatic style. Relation of the Agnimitra to the Raghu

Chapter VIII

The Urvasie... dramatic workmanship and conception; character of the poetry; relation to Meghaduta

Chapter IX
The Characters

Chapter X, XI, XII
The Shacountala

Chapter XIII, XIV
The Kumara

Chapter XV

Retrospect... poetic greatness of Kalidasa; comparison⁴ with other classical writers

Chapter XVI, XVII

Hindu civilisation in the...⁵ Kalidasa (This may go with Raghu or Kumara)

Later edition of this work: The Complete Works of Sri Aurobindo.- Set in 37 volumes.- Volume 1.- Early Cultural Writings (1890 — 1910).- Pondicherry: Sri Aurobindo Ashram, 2003.- 784 p.

¹ A number of chapters in this proposed work on Kalidasa were written fully or in part, as is evident from the foregoing pages, i.e. The Seasons, The Characters, The Hindu Drama, etc. Some chapters, however, if we may judge from internal references, seem to have been lost.

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² 2003 ed.: Valmekie

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³ 2003 ed.: Kalidasa... materialism

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⁴ 2003 ed.: comparisons

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⁵ Text illegible here. In the edition of 2003 year however: time of

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