Sri Aurobindo

Early Cultural Writings

(1890 — 1910)

Part Two. On Literature
The Poetry of Kalidasa

A Proposed Work on Kalidasa

Chapter I.

Kalidasa’s surroundings.

Chapter II.

Kalidasa and his work. The Malavas — the three ages, Valmekie¹...  Vyasa... Kalidasa... materialism² 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; comparisons³ with other classical [writers].

Chapter XVI XVII.

Hindu civilisation in the time of Kalidasa (this may go with Raghu or Kumara).

Earlier edition of this work: Sri Aurobindo Birth Century Library: Set in 30 volumes.- Volume 3.- The Harmony of Virtue: Early Cultural Writings — 1890-1910.- Pondicherry: Sri Aurobindo Asram, 1972.- 489 p.

¹ 1972 ed.: Valmiki

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² 1972 ed.: Kalidasa... — surrounding circumstances — materialism

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³ 1972 ed.: comparison

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