2026

Injustice to Śakuntalā in the play of Kālidāsa: A critical analysis with respect to Vyāsa’s Mahābhārata

Author(s): Dr. Arghyadip Roy

Abstract

Epic is always the great source of World Literature. Rāmāyaṇa and Mahābhārata, the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India, are the treasure house of literary elements. Based on these two epics, many works in different languages, in different genres of literature have been developed over time. Kālidāsa’s Abhijñānaśakuntalam (The Recognition of Śakuntalā or The Sign of Śakuntalā) is one of them. It is the best drama of Kālidāsa and the story of the play is adopted from the epic Ved Vyāsa’s Mahābhārata. Kālidāsa has dramatized the story of Śakuntalā as narrated in the epic Mahābhārata. Though the source of the drama is Mahābhārata, Kālidāsa has presented the story with minor changes in the plot. It is the story of divine love which has brought a disaster as well as a sweet fruit of reunion. This is not something new. It has been presented in Classical Indian Literature many times. But in comparison to the story of Mahābhārata, the play Abhijñānaśakuntalaṃ has been presented with greater moral values. And, to present these moral values before the audience, Śakuntalā has been victimized is a very urbane way. The present paper is an attempt to form a comparative perspective on the character of Śakuntalā found both in the Mahābhārata and in the play Abhijñānaśakuntalam and to justify the attempt of Kālidāsa, who tried to establish social and moral values through his plays by using dramatic characters.