Complete Works of Kalidasa

Works of Kalidasa:
Plays – There are three plays, the earliest of which is probably the Malavikaagnimitra ( Malavikaa and Agnimitra), a work concerned with palace intrigue. It is of special interest because the hero is a historical figure, King Agnimitra, whose father, Pushhpamitra, wrested the kingship of northern India from the Mauryan king Brihadratha about 185 B.C. and established the Sunga dvnasty, which held power for more than a century. The Vikramorvashiiya ( Urvashii Won Through Valor) is based on the old legend of the love of the mortal Pururavaas for the heavenly damsel Urvashii. The legend occurs in embryonic form in a hymn of the Rig Veda and in a much amplified version in the ShatapathabraahmaNa.

The third play, AbhiGYaanashaakuntala ( Shakuntalaa Recognized by the Token Ring), is the work by which Kaalidaasa is best known not only in India but throughout the world. It was the first work of Kaalidaasa to be translated into English from which was made a German translation in 1791 that evoked the often quoted admiration by Goethe. The raw material for this play, which usually is called in English simply Shaakuntala after the name of the heroine, is contained in the Mahaabhaarata and in similar form also in the PadmapuraaNa, but these versions seem crude and primitive when compared with Kaalidaasa’s polished and refined treatment of the story. In bare outline the story of the play is as follows: King Dushhyanta, while on a hunting expedition, meets the hermit-girl Shakuntalaa, whom he marries in the hermitage by a ceremony of mutual consent. Obliged by affairs of state to return to his palace, he gives Shakuntalaa his signet ring, promising to send for her later. But when Shakuntalaa comes to the court for their reunion, pregnant with his child, Dushhyanta fails to acknowledge her as his wife because of a curse. The spell is subsequently broken by the discovery of the ring, which Shakuntalaa had lost on her way to the court. The couple are later reunited, and all ends happily.

The influence of the AbhiGYaanashaakuntala outside India is evident not only in the abundance of translations in many languages, but also in its adaptation to the operatic stage by Paderewski, Weinggartner, and Alfano.

Poems – In addition to these three plays Kalidaaa wrote two long epic poems, the Kumarasambhava ( Birth of Kumara) and the Raghuvamsha ( Dynasty of Raghu). The former is concerned with the events that lead to the marriage of the god Shiva and Paarvatii, daughter of the Himalayas. This union was desired by the gods for the production of a son, Kumara, god of war, who would help them defeat the demon Taraka. The gods induce Kama, god of love, to discharge an amatory arrow at Siva who is engrossed in meditation. Angered by this interruption of his austerities, he burns Kama to ashes with a glance of his third eye. But love for Paarvatii has been aroused, and it culminates in their marriage.

The Raghuvamsha treats of the family to which the great hero Rama belonged, commencing with its earliest antecedents and encapsulating the principal events told in the Raamaayana of Valmiki. But like the Kumarasambhava, the last nine cantos of which are clearly the addition of another poet, the Raghuvamsha ends rather abruptly, suggesting either that it was left unfinished by the poet or that its final portion was lost early.

Finally there are two lyric poems, the Meghaduta ( Cloud Messenger) and the Ritusamhara ( Description of the Seasons). The latter, if at all a genuine work of Kalidasa, must surely be regarded as a youthful composition, as it is distinguished by rather exaggerated and overly exuberant depictions of nature, such as are not elsewhere typical of the poet. It is of tangential interest, however, that the Ritusamhara, published in Bengal in 1792, was the first book to be printed in Sanskrit.

On the other hand, the Meghaduta, until the 1960’s hardly known outside India, is in many ways the finest and most perfect of all Kalidasa’s works and certainly one of the masterpiece of world literature. A short poem of 111 stanzas, it is founded at once upon the barest and yet most original of plots. For some unexplained dereliction of duty, a Yaksha, or attendant of Kubera, god of wealth, has been sent by his lord into yearlong exile in the mountains of central India, far away from his beloved wife on Mount Kaildasa in the Himalayas. At the opening of the poem, particularly distraught and hapless at the onset of the rains when the sky is dark and gloomy with clouds, the yaksa opens his heart to a cloud hugging close the mountain top. He requests it mere aggregation of smoke, lightning, water, and wind that it is, to convey a message of consolation to his beloved while on its northward course. The Yaksha then describes the many captivating sights that are in store for the cloud on its way to the fabulous city of Alakaa, where his wife languishes amid her memories of him. Throughout the Meghaduta, as perhaps nowhere else So plentifully in Kalidasa’s works, are an unvarying freshness of inspiration and charm, delight imagery and fancy, profound insight into the emotions, and a oneness with the phenomena of nature. Moreover, the fluidity and beauty of the language are probably unmatched in Sanskrit literature, a feature all the more remarkable for its inevitable loss in translation.

(Courtesy: Walter Harding Maurer University of Hawaii at Manoe)

DOWNLOAD LINKS TO COMPLETE WORKS OF KALIDASA

1. Abhijnana Sakuntalam
Abhijnana Sakuntalam Of Kalidasa – M. R.Kale
Abhijnana Sakuntalam English Translation by CSR Sastri
Sakuntala – Sanskrit Text with English Translation by Monier Williams
Sakuntala – English Translation by JG Jennings
Kalidasa’s Sakuntala – English Translation by Richard Pischel

2. Malavikagnimitram
Malavikagnimitram of Kalidasa – Skt Commentary – KP Parab
Malavikagnimitram English Translation by CH Tawney

3. Vikramorvasiyam
Vikramorvasiyam Sanksirt Text with English Notes by SP Pandit

Vikramorvasiyam English Translation by EB Cowell

4. Kumarasambhavam
Kumarasambhava Cantos I-VII – Sanskrit Commentary, English Translation & Notes – MR Kale
Kumarasambhavam – Eng Translation by RTH Griffith
Kumarasambhavam with Mallinatha’s Sanskrit Commentary

5. Raghuvamsam
Raghuvamsa with Mallinatha’s commentary Hindi translation by Pt. Lakshmi Prapanna Acharya(DJVU)
Raghuvamsa with Mallinatha’s commentary Shankar Pandit Part 3
Raghuvamsa English Translation by De Lacy Johnston
Cantos 1 to 10 with Mallinatha’s commentary and Eng Translation by MR Kale
Raghuvamsa with Hindi Tika by Jvalaprasa Mishra
Raghuvamsa with Commentary of Mallinatha & English Translation by GR Nandargikar

6. Meghasandesam (Meghadutam)
Meghasandesa with Dakshinavartanatha’s Tika – TG Sastri
Meghaduta with Sanjivani Vyakhya 1894
Kalidasa’s Meghaduta with Skt Commentary & English Translation – KB Pathak, 1916
Meghaduta English Translation by HH Wilson, 1814
Meghaduta English Translation by Col. HA Ouvry, 1868

7. Works of Kalidasa
Works of Kalidasa English Translation – William Jones 1901


Comments

Complete Works of Kalidasa — 99 Comments

  1. To dive deep into the depths of archive.org and other sources and offer the download ‘connection’ to all the Kalidasa’s ‘collection’ and to bring about the ‘very pearls’ of Indian Sanskrit Literature is indeed a great job. Many would not even be aware of the existence of these books; including many librarians.

    Many Many thanks. May the Almighty bless you ever.

  2. महॊदय नमांसि ।

    भवतः ब्लाग् / वेब् सैट् पृष्ठं संस्कृतवाण्यां (The unique Sanskrit aggregator)संयॊजितं इति वक्तुं संतॊषं प्रकटयामि । तदत्र निम्नॊक्तप्रदॆशॆ द्रष्टुं शक्यतॆ

    http://sanskrit.teluguthesis.org/aggregator/sources

    अन्यदपि मॆ विज्ञापनं यद्भवतां ब्लाग् / वेब् सैट् पृष्ठॆ अस्माकं संस्कृतवाण्याः ( http://sanskrit.teluguthesis.org/node/2 प्रदॆशॆ लभॆत् ) चित्रं यथाशक्ति प्रकटीकुर्युः यॆन वयं धन्याः, कृतज्ञाश्च भवॆम ।

    संस्कृतवाणी कृतॆ –

    पाण्डुरङ्गशर्मा रामकः


    संस्कृतवाणी

    Sanskrit Aggregator’s Blog

  3. Thanks a lot for unfolding major works of this great Indian poet Kalidasa. It’s very informative, which makes a reader know more about this legendary figure. It’s really unfortunate that such great heroes are unknown to our youths lost in the glamour of modern life.

    Arvind K.Pandey

  4. KALIDASA IS THE GREATEST POET.WE INDIANS ARE FOOLS AND IGNORANT OF THE VALUE OF THE GEM.
    THANKS FOR YOUR VALUABLE INFO AND DOWNLOADABILITY.

    KUDOS FOR YOUR EFFORT.JUST KEEP IT UP

  5. the best site i ever visited for sanskrit info> i am a FAN of kalidasa and this is the best place. thank you very very much. similar works on Sankara will be appreciated. my ignorance be pardoned if its already there.

  6. it is really wonderful to come across such a valuable and worthy website.i ha been trying to read these books for some time but was not sure which author’s translation to choose and also the basic availability of these books is scarce. i covey my sincere thanks to you. keep up the great work.

  7. Excellent work is done by this site.I wish more and more books of Sanskrit Language be available in the downloadable digitized form. MANY MANY THANKS TO ENTIRE TEAM. GOD BLESS YOU—Anil Vora

  8. Looking for a very rare special book in particular,..Hope someone would help me lay my hands upon the pdf version of the same: Vishwa Gunaadarsha Champu by the great Venkatadwari.

  9. I am looking for a slokam written by Kalidasa Maha Kavi on Mookambika i.e. that slokam/poem is about asking the lodes to give him the speed of a female horse with which he can tell the poems. If you know can any of you please share that sloka with me?

    Thanks

    • चेटी भवन्निखल खेटी कदम्बवन वाटीषु नाकी पटली
      कोटीर चारुतर कोटीमणी किरण कोटिकरम्बित पदा ।
      पाटिरजन्धि कुचशाटी कवित्व परिपाटी मगाधिप सुता
      गोटीखुरादधिकधाटीमुदार मुखवीटीरसेन तनुताम् ॥

      This is the sloka you are asking about and it is the first sloka of “Ashwadhati” stotram written by Mahakavi Kalidas

      • चेटी भवन्निखल खेटी कदम्बवन वाटीषु नाकि पटली
        कोटीर चारुतर कोटीमणी किरण कोटीकरम्बित पदा ।
        पाटीरजन्धि कुचशाटी कवित्व परिपाटी मगाधिप सुता
        गोटीखुरादधिकधाटीमुदार मुखवीटीरसेन तनुताम् ॥

    • चेटी भन्निखिल खेटी कदम्बवनवाटीषु नाकिपटली
      कोटीर चारुतर कोटीमणी किरणा कोटीकरम्बुत पदा ।
      पाटीरगन्धि कुचशाटी कवित्व परिपाटी मगाधिप सुता
      गोटीखुरादधिकधाटीमुदार मुखवीटीरसेन तनुताम् ॥

      This is the sloka you are asking about and it is the first sloka of “Ashwadhati” stotram written by Mahakavi Kalidas

  10. In fact Kalidas was a great teacher of Sanskrit, a Government language of date time .He was in Ujjeni the capital of Gupta .His birth place is in Uttrakhand .There is a place in route of Kedarnath shrine called Guptakashi ,near it a village called Kabitha or place of Kabi is his birth place . It untrue he was a idiot from early time of his life .In his composition Meghdoot the Alkapuri was certainly Almora .No person can depict the picture of Himalaya without looking it .It is also well knowfact that place of yasksh was Himalaya and mostly native of Himalaya called Kashiya successor of Yaskya

  11. नमोऽस्तु। मह्यं शतपथ ब्राह्मणं सायणाचार्य भाष्ययुतं झटिति अपेक्षितमस्ति। कृपया सूचितं चेत् धन्यो भवेयम्।

    • Sir,

      You can download Bibliotheca Indica edition of Satapatha Brahmana edited by Satyavrata Samasrami from Digital Library of India. Book details are given below. (I could not locate volume 8). These volumes can be downloaded in PDF format using a free software ‘DLI Downloader’ which is available at https://code.google.com/p/dli-downloader/downloads/list
      A tutorial for installing and using the software is provided at https://code.google.com/p/dli-downloader/

      Catapatha Brahmana vol. 1., 4990010095114. Samasrami, Satyavrata, ed.. 1903. sanskrit. RELIGION. THEOLOGY. 708 pgs.
      Catapatha Brahmana vol. 2., 4990010218318. Samasrami, Satyavrata, ed.. 1906. sanskrit. RELIGION. THEOLOGY. 482 pgs.
      Catapatha Brahmana vol. 3., 4990010095116. Samasrami, Satyavrata, ed.. 1905. sanskrit. RELIGION. THEOLOGY. 674 pgs.
      Shatapatha Brahmanam vol. 4, kanda. 6., 4990010096172. Samasrami, Satyavrata. 1908. sanskrit. RELIGION. THEOLOGY. 516 pgs.
      Catapatha Brahmana vol. 5., 4990010218320. Samasrami, Satyavrata, ed.. 1907. sanskrit. RELIGION. THEOLOGY. 436 pgs.
      Catapatha Brahmana vol. 6., 4990010095118. Samasrami, Satyavrata, ed.. 1908. sanskrit. RELIGION. THEOLOGY. 514 pgs.
      Catapatha Brahmana vol. 7., 4990010218322. Samasrami, Satyavrata, ed.. 1910. sanskrit. RELIGION. THEOLOGY. 448 pgs.
      Catapatha Brahmana Vol. 9., 4990010055099. Samasrami’s, Satyavrata ed.. 1911. sanskrit. Literature. 206 pgs.

    • Manjula,

      There are links to Sanskrit editions of Kalidasa’s works. Please look at them carefully. Some of them have Sanskrit commentaries and some have English translations.

  12. Dear sirs,

    From first to tenth cantos of Raghuvaamsa , there are links to download the verses with English translations.
    From eleventh canto onwards are such links available ?
    Thanks and Kind Regards
    S.Kannan

    • Kannan,

      I have added a link to Raghuvamsa with Mallinatha’s Commentary & English translation of all cantos of Raghuvamsa by GR Nandargikar.

  13. Dear sir,
    You really deserve congratulations because it provides extremely helpful information, at one place, to a researcher. Thanks.

  14. plz tell me the link where i can download the books of sanskrit with hindi translation .i.e. MEGHDOOTAM…..RAGHUVANSHAM……ABHIGIANSHANKOOTLAM……….

    • Ajay Dhiman, You can download “Kalidasa Granthavali” containing complete works of Kalidasa with Hindi translation by Sitaram Chaturvedi from Digital Library of India. Details given below. You can download this book in pdf format using a free software named DLI Downloader, which is available at http://dli-downloader.blogspot.in/2013/04/fast-dli-downloader-tool-to-download.html

      Kalidas_Granthvali_AC_4658., 99999990034887. . . hindi. . 1016 pgs.

      • dear sir.
        i am unable to download DLI Downloader. i m downloading the jar with 8.13 MB but it is downloaded as text file. is there any otherway to download kalidasa work in hindi translation. otherwise tell me how to install DLI DOWNLOADER. I Am in urgent need of books. kindly help me

  15. I couldn’t download this. It goes to simple file sharing and then it stops. Pls help.

    Meghaduta with Sanjivani Vyakhya 1894

  16. i am eager to purchase hard cover books ok all Kalidasa Works, all 6 subjects in hard copy books eith hindi and/or English translation . kindly guide me where and how can i get it. i am very much excited to buy it. wanted to read great stories since long. please guide me.

  17. thanks a lot for all the info about the great poet and his works.
    can you help with the information about ‘Sita Vilas’?

  18. Where can I find the english translation of 8th to 19th canto of Kumarasambhava.Please reply on urgent basis,I need it for a project.

  19. केवल माहकवि कलिदस ने स्त्रियो को अधिक आदर दिया है?

  20. it is very useful for the students and teachers also because it has been written very easy in language and clearly also therefore everyone can take help of this

  21. संस्कृत में मानव मूल्य विशेषतः महाभारत में मानव मूल्य से सम्बन्धित पुस्तकें प्राप्त होगी क्या

  22. There is a good translation of ‘Meghadoota’ in malayalam, in the same ‘vrutha,
    by K.K. GANAPATHI NAMBOODIRIPPAD. Though it was translated in 1960s, it was published by DC/Current books in 2017.

  23. Can anyone tell me where i can download the sanskrit text of the Sringararasa astaka of Kalidasa or send it to me?

    • Most probably, this verse was not authored by Kalidasa, since his own name appears in its second half, as the best among poets. Kalidasa or any other ancient Indian poet would not do so. Moreover, this verse cites Magha as the best among kavyas. Magha Kavi lived several centuries after Kalidasa.
      पुष्पेषु जाती पुरुषेषु विष्णुर्नारीषु रम्भा नगरीषु काञ्ची ।
      नदीषु गंगा नरपेषु रामः काव्येषु माघः कवि कालिदासः ॥

  24. I am not able to find these two books . Are they available ->

    Sisupalavadham-Magha by M. R. Kale
    Naisadhiyacaritam-Sriharsa by M. R. Kale

    Please do tell .

  25. your post on “Life of Kalidas” by whosoever this Joshi guy is is nonsense/ immature and fraud. If you do not have right writers who do proper research then refrain from posting.
    U seem a reasonable portal but your research is fake.

  26. IS RITUSAMHARA OF KALIDASA WITH ENGLISH TRANSLATION ON DIGITAL PLATFORM. IF SO PLEASE GIVE DETAILS AS TO WHERE TO FIND IT

  27. Where can I find the story of Raghuvamsa Mahakavya of Kalidasa in Sanksrit prose form and its English translation?

  28. Could someone give me link to download (PDF) just the Sanskrit version of Kalidas’s Abhigyan Shakuntalam. Thanks.

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