Malavikagnimitram | Kalidas | Marathi Translation by Alaknanda Inamdar

A king falls in love with a portrait before he has ever met the girl in it. Malavikagnimitram ("Malavika and Agnimitra") is Kalidas's first play, a five-act court comedy of love, jealousy and dance, translated into Marathi by Alaknanda Inamdar, with the original Sanskrit verses alongside the Marathi.

King Agnimitra of the Shunga dynasty rules from Vidisha. He glimpses Malavika, a maid in Queen Dharini's household, and needs his jester's schemes just to see her dance. The jealous queen locks Malavika away, but the truth about her birth changes everything. Dance is at the heart of the play: the dancing-master Ganadas, a performance staged within the play, and a theory of music and acting. The play also records the Rajasuya sacrifice of Agnimitra's father, Pushyamitra Shunga, which gives history readers a rare glimpse of the period.

This is the first of Kalidas's three plays. The other two, Vikramorvashiyam (also translated by Alaknanda Inamdar) and Abhijnan Shakuntalam, are also available from Varada. For the same story retold as an illustrated Marathi novel, see Dnyaneshwar Kulkarni's Malvika. With the Sanskrit and Marathi side by side, this edition suits students of Sanskrit, readers of Indian history, and anyone who enjoys Kalidas.

Book details

• भाषा / Language: मराठी (मूळ संस्कृत श्लोकांसह)
• मूळ लेखक / Original: महाकवी कालिदास (संस्कृत)
• अनुवाद / Translation: अलकनंदा इनामदार
• बांधणी / Format: Paperback
• प्रकाशक / Publisher: वरदा प्रकाशन, पुणे

चित्रातल्या मालविकेवर जडलेले राजा अग्निमित्राचे प्रेम, राणी धारिणीचा मत्सर आणि नृत्याचा रंगमंच — महाकवी कालिदासाचे हे पहिले नाटक. शुंग काळातील विदिशेच्या राजदरबाराचे दर्शन घडवणारे "मालविकाग्निमित्रम्" अलकनंदा इनामदार यांच्या मराठी अनुवादात, मूळ संस्कृत श्लोकांसह.

मालविकाग्निमित्रम् — वारंवार विचारले जाणारे प्रश्न / FAQ

Q: कालिदासाचे पहिले नाटक कोणते? / What was Kalidas's first play?

A: Malavikagnimitram. It was followed by Vikramorvashiyam and Abhijnan Shakuntalam.

Q: मालविकाग्निमित्रम् कशाबद्दल आहे? / What is it about?

A: It is about King Agnimitra of the Shunga dynasty and his love for Malavika, a dancer in his queen's household, set at the court of Vidisha.

Q: या पुस्तकाचा मराठी अनुवाद कोणी केला? / Who translated this edition?

A: Alaknanda Inamdar translated it into Marathi. The original Sanskrit verses are printed alongside the translation.

Q: हे नाटक ऐतिहासिक आहे का? / Is it historical?

A: It is drawn from the reign of Pushyamitra Shunga and mentions his Rajasuya sacrifice. The love story is Kalidas's own invention.

Q: हे पुस्तक कुठे मिळेल? / Where can I buy it?

A: मालविकाग्निमित्रम् हे पुस्तक varadabooks.com वर उपलब्ध आहे. घरपोच डिलिव्हरी मिळते.