Inexplicable Nostalgia! -Kalidasa’s Shakuntalam (Story Behind Verse-4)

 Story Behind Verse-4 -Kalidasa’s Shakuntalam

Nostalgia has an incredible power to transport us back in time, evoking emotions and memories long forgotten. Nostalgia, a bittersweet longing for times gone by, holds a unique power to transport us to another time and place. It evokes emotions, triggers memories, and creates a deep sense of connection to our personal histories. Sometimes it comes to us gently; other times it hits us hard. And though we can usually identify the feeling as a bittersweet longing for a time gone by, the triggers and details are deeply personal.  – especially when it’s an object attached to someone you loved. These senses touch a part of our brain that processes intense emotions, and can produce powerfully good emotions.

This famous verse from of Kalidasa’s famous Sanskrit play, Abhijnana Shakuntalam explain the feeling About Nostalgia.

 

( I clicked this pic in western ghats In Monsoon Season)

रम्याणि वीक्ष्य मधुरांश्च निशम्य शब्दान्‌

पर्युत्सुको भवति यत्सुखितोऽपि जन्तुः |

तच्चेतसा स्मरति नूनमबोधपूर्वं

भावस्थिराणि जननान्तरसौहृदानि ||

रम्याणि वीक्ष्य मधुरांश्च निशम्य शब्दान्‌ (Ramyāṇi vīkṣya madhurāṃś ca niśamya śabdān): "Seeing beautiful things and hearing sweet sounds".

    पर्युत्सुको भवति यत्सुखितोऽपि जन्तुः (Paryutsuko bhavati yat sukhito 'pi jantuḥ): "When a living being (person), even though happy, becomes restless/melancholic".

    तच्चेतसा स्मरति नूनमबोधपूर्वं (Tac cetasā smarati nūnam abodha-pūrvaṃ): "Then surely the mind unconsciously remembers (something not known before)".

    भावस्थिराणि जननान्तरसौहृदानि (Bhāva-sthirāṇi jananāntara-sauhṛdāni): "Affections/friendships (that are) fixed in the heart (and belong to) another life/existence".

Meaning Of this Verse: "Seeing charming scenes and hearing sweet sounds, even a happy person becomes filled with a longing (or a vague, inexplicable sorrow). This is because [the mind/soul] surely remembers, on a subconscious level, the lasting friendships of previous lives."

In the play, King Dushyanta has forgotten his wife, Shakuntala, due to a curse. When he hears a song about a bee forgetting a flower, he feels a sudden pang of grief. 

 

A playful moment with the bee used as an instrument for fleeting flirtation ,as Dushyanta,who  is hiding behind the trees nearby and admiring her beauty, King Dushyanta observes a bee bothering Shakuntala as she waters the trees. Envious of the bee's intimacy with her, the King recites the following verse (Act 1, Verse 21):  exclaims that the bee was indeed very fortunate to get so close to Shakuntala.

Bee Hymn:

Sanskrit Verse

चलापाङ्गां दृष्टिं स्पृशसि बहुशो वेपथुमतीं

रहस्याख्यायीव स्वनसि मृदु कर्णान्तिकचरः ।

करौ व्याधुन्वन्त्याः पिबसि रतिसर्वस्वमधरं

वयं तत्त्वान्वेषान्मधुकर हतास्त्वं खलु कृती ॥

English Meaning:

Touch: "You touch repeatedly her eyes, which have tremulous outer corners and are darting about in fear".

Whisper: "Hovering near her ear, you hum softly as if whispering some secret".

Kiss: "While she waves her hands to ward you off, you drink from her lower lip, which is the very essence of love's delight".

Envy: "O bee! We are ruined by our search for the truth (waiting to know if she can be loved), while you have truly achieved your desire".

 

Pics Credit- Google Image 

King Dushyanta to a bee chasing Shakuntala. He says: "O bee! You touch again and again her eyes, moving with tremulous glances; softly humming, you move near her ear as if telling a secret; while she waves her hands, you kiss her lower lip, which is the essence of love's joy; we are undone trying to find the truth, while you are indeed fortunate

This verse explains his internal state: his soul remembers Shakuntala, even though his conscious mind cannot. It is spoken by King Dushyanta after he hears a haunting song that stirs deep, inexplicable emotions within him. This verse explains that when a happy person feels sudden, unexplained longing upon seeing beautiful sights or hearing sweet sounds, it is because their subconscious mind is remembering deep, emotional bonds of friendship and love from past lives.

    “When a person, even if happy, becomes wistful on seeing beautiful things and hearing sweet sounds, it is because their mind unconsciously remembers friendships from past lives, which are firmly fixed deep in the heart rooted “.

Kalidasa This verse expresses the profound philosophical idea suggests that when we experience something beautiful in this life and feel a sudden, inexplicable sadness or yearning, it is because our soul is recalling the love and bonds we shared in a previous life. These memories are not vivid "thoughts," but rather deep-seated emotions (Vasanas) that remain in the soul even after the physical body changes. Some words can never be completely understood just by reading. You only get to see what they truly mean through experience.

Kalinga Narthna -Pattachithra painting!

 

Kalinga Narthna 

Kalinga Nardhana - Nardhana means dance. This is my first attempt of multiple composition of humam figures in Pattachithra.I thank My guru Smruthi ji Pattachithra artist Of Orissa who taught me this beautiful painting.

Acrylic on canvas-30*18* 

colour- Camilin

In this beautiful pattachitra painting of Kalinga Nardhana depicts the story when a young Krishna subdued the dangerous Kalinga\ Kaliya who had poisoned the River Yamuna. Krishna stands with one foot on the snake’s hoods and the other on the back of the subdued Kalinga. In Krishna’s left hand he holds the tail of Kalinga, and in his right a conch. Krishna has a peacock feather in his topknot and is adorned with numerous gold jewellery pieces including bracelets, anklets and necklaces. Yamuna is depicted in the lower half of the frame with a beautiful cloudy sky above

The flowing motion of Krishna was trying to convey a sense of careless elegance by keeping his toe in the head of the snake. The heads of the snake: I tried to give each head a distinct personality. The head being trampled by Krishna is the most arrogant one, a few nearby are staring menacingly at Krishna, undoubtedly the targets of his future steps; whereas there are some heads that seem reconciled with subordination .The dance symbolizes the cosmic order and the triumph of divine righteousness, underscoring Krishna's role as the cosmic dancer and protector. Through vivid hues and detailed strokes, the Kalinga Narthana Krishna  in Pattachitra Painting becomes a visual hymn, celebrating the eternal dance of cosmic balance and divine grace. He has always been one of the most popular deities in India and so  he is frequently depicted in paintings of the classical traditions.

Story Of Kalinga Narthana:

The water of the Yamuna for four leagues all around him boiled and      bubbledwith poison. No bird or beast could go near, and only one solitary Kadamba tree grew on the river bank.The proper home of Kāliya was Ramanaka Dwipa, but he had been driven away from there by fear of Garuda, the foe of all serpents. Garuda had been cursed by a yogi dwelling at Vrindavan so that he could not come to Vrindavan without meeting his death. Therefore Kāliya chose Vrindavan as his residence, knowing it was the only place where Garuda could not come. Kalinga knew about this. Therefore he sought shelter in that pool of water with his family and it had been occupying the river Yamuna and its banks.It had poisoned the waters of the Yamuna and also dried the forests by the poison airs breathed by it.

 Krishna and His friends were grazing their cows when one of the cows went to the riverside to drinkwater from the river Yamuna.Soon it dropped dead from water poisoning. Sri Krishna noticed that the most venomous snake had rendered the water of the Yamuna poisonous. He wanted to expel the serpent from the river in order to purify the water. Sri Krishna tightened His girdle, climbed a lofty Kadamba tree, and jumped into the pool of water. The serpent fiercely attacked Krishna and stung Him in His vital parts. It completely enclosed Him in its coils. The cows wept and the Gopa boys became senseless. Nanda and other Gopas came out in search of Krishna. They saw Him in the grasp of the powerful serpent and wept bitterly. , played different types of flutes and sang various prayers and songs.

In this way, all the denizens of heaven, such as theGandharvas,Siddhas anddemigods, became very much pleased. Kaliya had about a hundred hoods, but Krishna took control of them. Gradually, Kaliya was reduced to struggling for his very life. He vomited all kinds of refuse and exhaled fire. While throwing up poisonous material from within, Kaliya became reduced in his sinful situation. Kaliya then began to vomit blood instead of poison; he was completely fatigued. His whole body appeared to be broken by the kicks of the Lord. Within his mind, however, he finally began to understand that Krishna is theSupreme Personality of Godhead, and he surrendered unto Him.

Sri Krishna trampled down with His feet each one of the hoods. The body of the serpent was shattered. The serpent sought the protection of the Lord. The wives of the serpent, known as the Nagapatnis, saw that their husband had been subdued by the Lord’s kicking and that he was almost at the point of death due to bearing the heavy burden of the Lord, within whose abdomen the whole universe remains. Kaliya’s wives also surrendered unto the Supreme Lord and began to pray. The Nagapatnis knew that Krishna is the shelter of all surrendered souls, and they desired to release their husband from the impending danger by pleasing the Lord with their prayer.The Nagapatnis were astonished that, although Kaliya had the body of a serpent as the result of grievous sinful activities, at the same time he was in contact with the Lord to the extent that the Lord’s lotus feet were touching his hoods. The wives of the serpent praised Krishna and prayed for their husband's life.The Lord stopped His dance. Kaliya slowly recovered consciousness.

The dance of Lord Krishna, vanquishing Kaliya Naag, unfolds within a striking contrast, the white expanse symbolizing water and the maroon sky, creating a dynamic visual impact. This depiction holds profound significance, portraying Krishna's triumph over the serpent Kaliya.

The Lord was pleased with Kaliya and his wives. Immediately after hearing His order, the wives began to worship Him with great offerings of nice garments, flowers, garlands, jewels, ornaments, sandal pulp, lotus flowers, and nice eatable fruits. In this way they pleased the master of Garuda, of whom they were very much afraid. Then, obeying the orders of Lord Krsna, all of them left the lake within the Yamuna.

Krishna said, "O Kaliya !Do not stay here any more. Go to the sea immediately with all your kith and kin and, wives. Let the water of the Yamuna be used by the cows and men. I know that you left Ramanaka island for fear of Garuda and came to live in this pool. But now, as your hoods bear the marks of My feet, Garuda will not touch you." Thereupon Kaliya proceeded to the Ramanaka island in the sea with his wives, friends and children. The waters of the Yamuna then turned as sweet as nectar itself.

This incident of Krishna subduing Kaliya has come down as one of the popular tales around Krishna’s childhood. It has found a place in everyone’s heart and in almost all homes in India through millennia in legends and some form of art or the other, including song and dance.