Chapter II: Introduction: Kalidasa--His Life and Writings

SHAKUNTALA

THE STORY OF SHAKUNTALA

THE TWO MINOR DRAMAS--
I. Malavika and Agnimitra
II. Urvashi

THE DYNASTY OF RAGHU

THE BIRTH OF THE WAR-GOD

THE CLOUD-MESSENGER

THE SEASONS

* * * * *

SHAKUNTALA A PLAY IN SEVEN ACTS

DRAMATIS PERSONÆ

KING DUSHYANTA.

BHARATA, _nicknamed_ All-tamer, _his son_.

MADHAVYA, _a clown, his companion_.

His charioteer.

RAIVATAKA, _a door-keeper_.

BHADRASENA, _a general_.

KARABHAKA, _a servant_.

PARVATAYANA, _a chamberlain_.

SOMARATA, _a chaplain_.

KANVA, _hermit-father_.

SHARNGARAVA }

SHARADVATA } _his pupils_.

HARITA }

DURVASAS, _an irascible sage_.

The chief of police.

SUCHAKA }
} _policemen_.
JANUKA }

A fisherman.

SHAKUNTALA, _foster-child of Kanva_.

ANUSUVA }
} _her friends_.
PRIYAMVADA }

GAUTAMI, _hermit-mother_.

KASHYAPA, _father of the gods_.

ADITI, _mother of the gods_.

MATALI, _charioteer of heaven's king_.

GALAVA, _a pupil in heaven_.

MISHRAKESHI, _a heavenly nymph_.

_Stage-director and actress (in the prologue), hermits and hermit-women, two court poets, palace attendants, invisible fairies_.

The first four acts pass in Kanva's forest hermitage; acts five and six in the king's palace; act seven on a heavenly mountain. The time is perhaps seven years.

SHAKUNTALA