The Story of Kalidas(The Test of Greatness)
The Story of Kalidas(The Test of Greatness)
Among the many learned men in the court of Raja Bhoj, Kalidas enjoyed a unique position. He was held in high esteem by the Raja who placed complete confidence in him. This was a cause of heart-burning among other courtiers who thought Kalidas received undeserved honour and praise from the Raja.
Once some courtiers approached the Raja and told him that Bhavbhooti, another poet, composed songs far more better than Kalidas.
Raja Bhoj enquired how he could make himself sure of that.They suggested that both of them should write their songs on separate papers and have the papers weighed. The poet whose song weighed more should be declared the greater of the two.
The Raja consented and a day was fixed for weighing the papers on which, songs by Kalidas and Bhavbhooti were written.
On the appointed day, the Raja in the company of Kalidas, Bhavbhooti and his courtiers went to the temple of Mother Kali. In the temple, before the goddess, the songs written by Kalidas and Bhavbhooti were put in the two pans of a weighing scale.
The pan with the song composed by Kalidas went down. It was heavier than the other.When Bhavbhooti saw this, he fervently prayed to Mother Kali to save him from the difficult situation. To save the face of her devotee, the goddess put her foot on the pan containing the songs of Bhavbhooti. Slowly that pan came down while the other went up.
No one could understand the miracle but Kalidas quickly understood what was happening. He said aloud, тАЭ0 Goddess, why take the unnecessary trouble. I concede Bhavbhooti's pan is heavier."
Bhavbhooti was much ashamed. Silence descended on the temple, as Bhavbhooti fell at the feet of Kalidas and acknowledged him as the Great Poet.