Vikramorvasiyam (Urvashi and Pururavas)

Book excerpt: Vikramorvasiyam Is A Famous Play Composed By Kalidasa In Five Acts Which Describes The Love Of Pururavas, The King Of Pratishthana, And Urvasi, A Heavenly Nymph (Apsaras). In This Play, Kalidasa Seems To Have Concentrated More On Characterization Than On Plot-Construction As He Has Done In The Malavikagnimitra. But The Most Debated Portion Of The Play Is Act Iv Where The Hero, Distracted By Separation, Gives Vent To His Feelings In Short, Sweet And Pathetic Lyrics. It Is Not A Long Narrative Or Descriptive Poem Which Can Be Read With Chosen Intervals Or Breaks. With A True Dramatic Instinct Kalidasa Turns This Long-Drawn Pathetic Scene Into A Musical Ballet, And He Makes A Dexterous Use Of Prakrit Suitable A For Music As Well As The Lonesome State Of The Hero.