SANSKRIT-TAMIL
Kalidasa’s classic
S. REVATHY
RAGHUVAMSA MAHAKAVYAM OF KALIDASA: Tamil translation by V.S.Venkatraghavachariar; Pub. by The Little Flower Company, New No. 36, North Street, West CIT Nagar, Chennai-600035. Rs. 160.
KALIDASA’S RAGHUVAMSA describes the kings of Suryavamsa. The opening lines of the poem where he describes them are deservedly famous. From the time of its composition generations of readers have looked up to it for their ideals of life. It has also inspired great original poems in the various living regional languages of India. While Valmiki does not embark upon a lengthy description of them but only gives us a peep into their greatness, Kalidasa does so, and dependent on retelling Valmiki’s epic he mediates past knowledge with the present. The supreme beauty and charm of Kalidasa’s characterisation of these kings has evoked many admiring tributes from great scholars.
This recent edition of the Tamil translation of the Raghuvamsa, which was first published in 1952, appears without any revision. The preface and summary of the entire 19 cantos by the translator in the beginning of the text is masterly. While the author gives the word-to-word meaning of each verse, he also provides translation of the verse in total conveying the spirit and substance of the original, which reflects the experience and wisdom of the original author.
The author has utilised eight commentaries for the sake of interpretation, two of which are unpublished. He has also provided extracts from these commentaries in cases of problematic verses. This Tamil translation is lucid and expressive. That such a great poem has been made available for the Tamil-speaking people is to be highly appreciated. The publishers deserve congratulations. It is a welcome addition to all Sanskrit lovers.
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