“વિક્રમોર્વશીય”ના નાન્દીશ્લોકનું કાવ્યાર્થसૂचકત્વ : અ... (Atharvaveda 2.2 perspective)

Summary

This essay provides a close reading of the Nandi śloka—the opening benedictory verse—of Kālidāsa’s drama ‘Vikramorvaśīyam’ from the perspective of Atharvaveda 2.2. The author explains the traditional role of the Nandi as a prayer for the success of a theatrical performance and notes that commentators like Rāghavabhaṭṭa regard it as suggestive of the play’s poetic content. By comparing the language and imagery of the Nandi with hymns in the Atharvaveda, the article reveals shared motifs such as invocations to divine forces, wishes for auspicious outcomes and subtle hints at the union of the hero Vikrama and the celestial nymph Urvaśī. The analysis demonstrates that Kālidāsa embedded Vedic resonances in his drama, enriching its layers of meaning and linking classical Sanskrit literature with earlier sacred texts. The author argues that recognising these allusions enhances our understanding of the play’s thematic structure and the poetic genius of Kālidāsa.