Kalidasan, Bhavabhoothi and Self Confidence

The legendary king Bhojaraja was known for his patronage of art, literature, music and dance. His Court was blessed with many eminent poets, the leading being Kalidasan and Bhavabhoothi. (there is a bit of controversy here as Kalidasan is associated with Vikramaditya era also. it could be that there were two different persons by the same name. anyway that is not germane to this story)

One day Goddess Parvathi accused her consort Lord Siva of being partial to Kalidasan though Bhavabhoothi was equal to Kalidasan in all aspects. Lord Siva told her that there is a fundamental difference between Kalidasan and Bhavabhoothi and it has nothing to do with their technical skills as Poets. To prove his point, he asked Parvathi to go to the outer door of Bhojaraja court in the guise of a poor woman taking her son Subramanyan with her, with the son taking the role of an apparently dead infant. And he told her what to do.

Next day, just before the Court convened, Parvathi was there as directed with her apparently dead infant, and started crying. When people came to ask her why she was crying and why she has not buried her son, she replied that 'her son has died because of a curse and if someone were to fill the samasya

'Puro Nissarane Rana:'

appropriately, then her son would live. (those who don't know what samasya is: the last line is given, and the samasya pooranam requires that the first 2 or 3 lines are filled by a third person. the best composition gets the prize)

Most of the Poets in the Court tried their hand, but to no avail. The child didn't open its eyes. When Parvathi wailed that her son did not come alive yet, each one of them went away apologizing that it is the best they could do and ask someone else.

Then Bhavabhoothi came. He was told about the curse. He stood, closed his eyes and with reverence said,

'Yamithi Priyaprishtaya:
Priyaya: Kandasakthayo:
Asrujeevithayoraseeth
Puro Nissarane Rana:'

It was wonderful, almost divine but alas the child was still dead. When Parvathi pointed this out to Bhavabhoothi, he shrugged and said,

"I cannot do better than this. Ask the guy who is coming. He is Kalidasan and he might give a better samasya pooranam."

Kalidasan was late to the court. He was in a tearing hurry. He did not even notice the lady and the dead child. But Parvathi accosted him and asked his help. Without breaking his step, he gave the pooranam (Kalidasan was a 'Kshipra Kavi' meaning 'Instant Poet').

The pooranam was exactly identical to that given by Bhavabhoothi. When Parvathi complained that the child was still not alive, Kalidasan, looking over his shoulder, told her bluntly,

"Then your son wont live or he is not dead. How can he come alive if he is not dead?. I am telling this because, no one can give a better pooranam to this samasya than what I have given"

So saying, he walked rapidly in to the court.

It was a wiser Parvathy who went back to Lord Siva. Lord Siva told her that the difference between Kalidasan and Bhavabhoothi is one of self confidence. Kalidasan had immense faith in his abilities and he was sure that no one can write a poem better than him. Also, though poetically equal in all aspects, where Kalidasan scored over Bhavabhoothi was that Kalidasan was absolutely sure as to what is to be done exactly when and how.

There is a lesson in this for all of us. Have immense faith in your core competencies.