Author(s): Puspanjli Paikaray
Abstract:
This article studies the economic life reflected in Kālidāsa’s Laghutrayī, namely Raghuvaṃśa, Kumārasambhava, and Meghadūta. The study explains the material world shown in these works in simple English. Kālidāsa is not only a poet of beauty, love, and nature. He also gives small but clear pictures of work, wealth, land, cattle, roads, trade, coins, royal revenue, and gifts. These details help us understand the social life behind the poetry. The article begins with the idea of artha, or wealth, as an important aim of life. In Indian thought, artha supports dharma and kāma, so it is not treated as something impure or negative. It becomes wrong only when it is collected through greed or used without responsibility. Kālidāsa presents this balanced view through royal conduct, agriculture, animal wealth, transport, and charity. The farmer, trader, traveller, king, donor, and receiver all appear within this economic picture. Agriculture is shown through crops such as yava, śāli, nīvāra, kalama, and śyāmāka. Animal wealth appears through cows, horses, and elephants. Roads, chariots, rivers, and trade routes suggest movement and exchange. Mudrā, niṣka, suvarṇa, ornaments, and jewels point to developed ideas of value and stored wealth. Above all, Kālidāsa gives an ethical view of wealth. Kings collect bali for the welfare of people, and noble persons gather wealth for tyāga and dāna. Thus, the Laghutrayī shows economy as a part of culture, duty, and social care.
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