Ritusamharam: Gathering of Seasons

Perhaps the most lively and exuberant of Kalidasa, s extant works, Ritusamharam is a glorious ode to nature, s bounty and the enduring emotional response it evokes in mankind as a whole. Recounted as a celebration of the passing seasons, it is a feast for the senses, capturing the myriad facets of love and longing in a kaleidoscope of sumptuous imagery: the mischievous moonlight that, like a pining lover, steals glances at sleeping maidens; the monsoon-bloated rivers that rush to the sea with a lustful urgency; the flame of lovemaking that is kindled anew at the onset of winter; the heady scent of mango blossoms that makes even the most unyielding of hearts quiver. Even animals, big and small, are swept into the playful pattern of the great poet, s lyrical homage. A.N.D. Haksar, s supple and spirited translation is accompanied by an absorbing introduction and notes that shed further light on this extraordinary work.