Kalidasa’s Meghadutam- As a Timeless Message in the Cloud

 

Kalidāsa’s Meghadutam- as a Timeless Message in the Cloud .

 Now I am reading Sanskrit books from Sanskrit e books to read Kalidasa Meghadūtam and downloaded the book Of HH Wilson & MR Kale– Meghaduta of Kalidas.While reading I couldn’t resist it . So, I ordered book from Amazon I picked it up to read a couple of days back and finished reading it yesterday.

Pic Ref-( Google Image) 

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 Horace Hayman Wilson (H.H. Wilson) was a pioneering British orientalist who provided one of the earliest and most celebrated English translations of Kālidāsa’s Meghadūtam (The Cloud Messenger) in 1813. The emotions portrayed by Kalidasa in his lyric poem Meghaduta are extremely exquisite, giving rise to the poem first being translated into English by Horace Hayman Wilson in 1813. Since then, it has been translated several times into various languages.

The author’s erudition in Sanskrit and English, have undoubtedly come together to create this masterpiece, which could be called a classic in itself. Kalidasa has developed this simple theme into a great literary masterpiece of unparalleled beauty. Even after a passage of 1600 years since it was written, Meghadūtam continues to captivate the minds of its readers. Its translated Meghadootham from Sanskrit into other Indian languages. Kalidasa’s descriptions are so picturesque, that artists have been inspired to paint Meghadootha sloka by sloka. Its translations into several foreign languages have been posted on the internet.

Kalidasa’s Meghadūtam -A short poem of only 111 stanzas, it is one of Kalidasa`s most illustrious works. "Meghadūta" is indeed considered a classic example of a "Sandesha Kavyam," which translates to a"Message Poetry" or "Messenger Poetry" in English. Sandesha Kavyam is a genre of Sanskrit poetry where the central theme revolves around a messenger delivering a message from one person to another, usually conveying emotions like love, longing, or a request for reunion. The poem became well-known in Sanskrit literature and inspired other poets to produce comparable poems (known as "messenger-poems,"or Sandesha Kavya) on similar subjects.

 

Meghaduta is separated into two parts – Purvamegha (Previous cloud) and Uttaramegha (Consequent cloud).

 

The story told in ‘Meghadutam‘is famous and familiar to most of us. A yaksha, who serves under Kubera, the god of wealth, is banished from his home for a year, for failing in his duty Wandering southwards from the Himalayas, the yaksha had reached Ramagiri, a mountain in central India. He was thinking of his young wife whom he had left behind in Alakapuri.. He misses his wife and yearns for her company and pines for her. Then one day he sees a dark cloud, a rain-bearing cloud, hovering nearby.     “प्रियं स्मरन्ति” — Those who are in love remember their beloved when it rains. 

 

He imagined they were going to his home in Alaka    “अलका नगरी” — The heavenly city where love awaits., as they were moving in that direction. (“दक्षिणेऽपि दिशि तव गम्येति विश्वास एष” — Even the southern direction believes you will go. )He talks to the cloud and asks it to be his messenger and take his message to his beloved    “त्वं मे मित्रं दिशसि सदयं वारिवाह स्नेहयुक्तम्” — O cloud, you are my friend who carries my love.. Then he proceeds to describe the potential journey that this cloud will have to make, the distractions it will have on the way, and the message that it has to give his beloved, when it reaches the destination.  

At that very instant, a huge, dark cloud came to rest on the mountain peak.  It looked like an elephant kneeling down on a river bank.  At the sight of the majestic cloud, the yaksha felt a surge of hope.  Why don’t I send a message to my beloved through this northward-bound cloud, he wondered, and approached the cloud with an offering of flowers.  

जातं वंशे भुवनविदिते पुष्करावर्तकानं जानामि त्वां प्रकृतिपुरुषं कामरूपं मघोनः /

तेनार्थित्वं त्वयि विधिवशाद् दूरबन्धुर्गतोहं याञ्चा मोघा वरमधिगुणे नाधमे लब्धकामा //१-६//]

 

The yaksha then proceeds to give detailed directions to the cloud messenger on how to reach Alaka from Ramagiri, and in his mind’s eye, he sees the journey taking shape.

THE CLOUD MESSENGER’S JOURNEY 

“Begin your journey, O meghadoota, by sprinkling rain on the parched earth. The fragrance of wet earth will spread happiness among the country men and women. They will take to their fields singing joyously, and run their ploughs through the supple soil.   

  

    “Kaale varshati bhavati sukhaam smaranti priyaam te”

    (When it rains, those in love find joy; those separated remember their beloveds.)

“Soon, you’ll see the Amrakuta mountain, beautifully decked in a skirt of orange and green.  Its slopes will be covered with thick groves of Amra, (mango), heavy with ripe fruit.  As you race towards the Amrakuta, eager to rest after a fatiguing journey, you may see a wild fire ravaging the forests; quickly douse the flames  with rain. A grateful Amrakuta will embrace you and happily invite you to recline on its lofty heights.  When even ordinary folks wish to reciprocate a good turn, won’t one so noble as the good mountain? (Note: Amrakuta, now called Amarakantaka, is in the eastern part of the Vindhya range; river Narmada springs from here).  

 

“Refreshed, resume your journey northwards.  You will be able to fly with the wind, as you would have emptied all the water in fighting the wild fire scorching the slopes of Amrakuta.  When you grow tired of being light and airy, drink generously of the Reva (another name for the river Narmada) till you become full and heavy. Majestically, sail over mountains and plains, showering rain and bringing joy to all living things:  

“The green and brown kadhamba buds will spread out their petals as soon as the rain water touches them; 

“The bees will make a ‘beeline’ for kadhamba trees, attracted by the fragrance of the fresh blossoms;          

“The deer will gather in groups on the marshy river banks, eager to feast on the fresh kandhali leaves; 

“The elephant herds that love the smell of wet earth, especially aromatic after a dry spell, will be greatly excited at your arrival;      

 

“The chAthaka birds will fly animatedly hither and thither, skilfully catching every drop of rain. After all, they feed only on fresh drops of rain falling from the sky, don’t they?;      

“You’ll make even the Siddas happy. They are sages who are supposed to have overcome ‘mundane’ feelings like love and joy. But when you thunder, their wives will run to hug them in fear, overwhelming them.   

“In due course, you’ll reach Vidisha.  Drink deep of the sweet waters of the river Vetravati (now known as the Betwah) there and settle down to rest on one of the small, nameless hills.  Surely, the anonymous hill will be thrilled to be playing host to a majestic cloud such as you!  The flowers in the dense forests of kadamba trees that cover its slopes will perk up the moment rain drops touch them, making it seem as if the mountain is exhilarated at having such an exalted guest as you.    

“After a siesta on the small hill, proceed to Ujjaini, the capital of the kingdom of Avanti “When you reach Ujjaini, the early morning air will be charged with the fragrance of blooming lotuses and there will be a cool breeze from the river Sipra, on the banks of which stands the city.

“The aristocratic mansions of Ujjaini rival the homes of the gods in the celestial city, Amaravati.  In fact, this is the reason Ujjaini is also called Vishala. (Note: Vishala is a word derived from the Sanskrit phrase vishiSHtAha shAlAha, meaning special halls or mansions.)  

“Sail over the market; you’ll find it carpeted with pearl necklaces and precious stones, corals aplenty and bright emeralds like young grass.  Seeing all the the wealth of the ocean there, you may even begin to wonder what the seas will have left except their salty water!    

“In the evening, the rhythmic clanging of bells, drum beats and the sound of a conch being blown will draw you towards the temple of Mahakala, dedicated to one of Siva’s many avatars.  Engrossed in the festivities, which will include a vibrant dance showing Siva as the killer of the demon Gajasura, I won’t be surprised if you lose count of time. Ultimately, you may decide to stay overnight in Ujjaini.  If you do, drench the city that night with a gentle rain, accompanied by mellow thunder that does not frighten the people. Let bright flashes of lightning light the dark night like streaks of gold on a touchstone. 

“O meghadUta, though it will delay my message to my beloved, I encourage you to spend an entire day in Ujjaini absorbing the wondrous smells, sounds and sights along with moisture from rivers like the Nirvindhya. But next morning, be sure to leave even before the sun arrives to dry the dew drops on the lotus petals. Advance swiftly to Devagiri, the home of Skanda, the war-Lord, and the younger son of Lord Siva.  Shower Skanda with freshly drawn water from the holy river Ganga.  May the water droplets fall as gently on the Lord as if it were a shower of flowers that you’re raining down.  As you thunder in joy, the sounds will echo and re-echo through the mountains and Lord Skanda’s vehicle, the peacock, will dance in exhilaration.    

“When you reach river Charmanvati (now known as Chambal) and bend low to drink of its waters, what  a beautiful picture you will make! To the celestial beings flying far above you and the river will seem like a sapphire suspended from a string of pearls. They’ll stop to enjoy the spectacle and go away exclaiming: “What a beautiful cloud! It seems as if he has stolen the complexion of the wielder of the sAranga 

“गत्वा चैव हिमगिरितटे चैनसिद्धैः समार्ग्या” — When you reach the Himalayas, bow to the sages.

“Then, climb higher, towards Kailasa, the abode of Lord Siva. As your dark blackness encircles the ivory-white, snow covered mountain, you will look like a black cloth thrown over the massive shoulder of Balarama, the fair-skinned step-brother of the dark skinned Lord, Krishna.

“Your thunder, the pleasant sounds made by the bamboos filled with wind, and the songs of the kinnaras will combine to make a mellifluous musical melody – a concert fit to entertain Pashupati.

“You’ll soon reach Manasa. Drink of the waters of the beautiful lake(Note: The lake is now called Manasarovara) and have fun spraying the water on the hordes of krauncha birds, the golden lotuses in the lake, on Airavata – Lord Indra’s elephant – and on the fresh blooms of the wish-granting trees. (Note: According to Hindu mythology, there are five trees that are capable of granting boons.  These are: mandara, parijata, santana, pumsi and harichandanam.)      

 He describes them in picturesque detail and entices the cloud to see them. But here again the scientist prevails over the poet and he says that the monsoon winds will surely carry the cloud to the destination (“Mandam mandam nudati pavanaschanukulam yatha twam…” 1.10). The monsoon winds will slowly turn westwards (“Kinchit paschadvraja laghugatirbhuya evottarena…” 1.16). The yaksha is acquainted with the circuitous route of the monsoon and he repeatedly cautions that the cloud must always keep moving to the north (“Vakra pantha yadapi bhavatah prasthitasyottarasham…” 1.27).     

“Refreshed after the sport, move swiftly northwards. You’ll reach a city whose lofty, multi-storeyed mansions appear to be holding up masses of rain clouds. The dark clouds hanging over the city of white mansions will appear like a woman’s dark braid interwoven with strings of pearls. You cannot miss the city, my beloved home, Alaka. Once you reach Alaka, tarry not.  Fly directly to my bungalow and deliver my message to my wife forthwith. Taking your fill of Alaka’s beauty, slowly move over the city, looking for my dwelling.  You won’t need any directions to find my house.  Its gloomy appearance in the midst of all the splendour will mark it out.  

  

“Light up my house with a flash of lightning. But let it be a mild flash, no more brilliant than the glitter of a row of fireflies. “You’ll find a lady lying on the ground, like a wilted land-lotus.  Her eyes too will resemble a lotus, but a half-open one on a cloudy day,

The second part of the book is a big contrast to the first part, because while the first part is about the journey and the beautiful scenes and the excitement associated with them – it is about the outer world and its breadth – the second part of the book is about the heart and its yearning and its longing – it is about the inner world and its depth. In this second part, the yaksha describes how his wife will be pining for him and how she will be heartbroken in his absence. It is beautiful and moving and filled with love, yearning and longing.

No sooner had he finished than a gentle breeze began to blow; the chataka bird, which feeds only on raindrops that fall fresh from the clouds, began a happy song; rows of cranes appeared in the sky as if to attend on the cloud; and Indra’s magnificent, multi-coloured bow added a sparkle to the dark grey cloud, like the colourful peacock feather that added colour to the dark complexioned Lord, Krishna. The cloud messenger, the meghadoota, soared into the sky and the yaksha’s spirits soared with it.  He saw the good omens all around and felt sure his message would be delivered.      I loved both the parts of the book,

The Cloud: The central symbol of the poem is the cloud itself, which serves as the messenger between the yaksha and his beloved. The cloud symbolizes hope, connection, and the possibility of reuniting with the loved one despite physical distance. It becomes a metaphor for the yaksha's emotions and acts as a bridge between the separated lovers.

Nature: Throughout the poem, various elements of nature, such as rivers, mountains, flowers, and animals, symbolize different aspects of the yaksha's emotions and journey. Nature reflects the beauty of the world the yaksha longs to share with his beloved and enhances the overall emotional impact of the poem.

The Journey: The journey of the cloud from the Himalayas to Alaka symbolizes the arduous path of love, highlighting the effort and determination required to overcome obstacles and reunite with the beloved.

Meghadūtam is not just a poem — it is a journey through longing, speaks to lovers today as it did centuries ago. and an artistic message to eternity. Through a simple narrative of a cloud carrying a message, Kalidasa captures the complexity of love, nature, exile, geography, and spiritual yearning. No matter the century, separation and love remain deeply human experiences. It reminds us that sometimes, the most powerful messages are not typed or spoken, but imagined and carried by clouds. “यात्याशा न खलु समयं ध्वान्तमेव प्रतीयात्” — Hope travels even in darkness.