Following the tradition in Sanskrit drama as narrated in natyashastra, we learn that before the commencement of a drama, an elaborate series of preliminaries had to be performed, consisting chiefly of the Prastavana which would announce the beginning of the performance. Kalidasa's play "Abhijnanashakuntalam", in this respect, is no exception. Here, we find that the Sutradhara (the stage manager) alone performs both the functions of the preliminaries and of the prologue. His chief purpose is to introduce the play to the audience; he arranges the cast of characters, instructs them in their different roles, and is thus responsible for the successful performance of the drama.
The play opens with the benedictory stanza ("Nandi") which praises the lord Siva and invokes his blessing and protection. He manifest himself in eight different visible forms-water, fire, sacrificer, the sun, the moon, air, earth, and the sky. Then the Sutradhara invites the leading actress (Nati, wife of the Sutradhara) to come and appear before the audience for the the presentation of a new play composed by Kalidasa, entitled "the recognition of Shakuntala". The Sutradhara wants her to see that everything is well-prepared and the discerning audience must get a perfect performance and must applaud appreciatively at the end of the play. In order to please the ears of the audience, the stage director asks the actress to sing a song (about the season summer) which proves highly captivating, thereby arresting the attention of the audience. The Sutradhara compares his being carried away by the ravishing melody of the song has carried away by the ravishing melody of the song as King Duhsanta was while chasing the antelope or the spotted deer in the penance-grove.
Thus, the prologue ends. Its significance lies in the fact that a part from giving an account of the author and his qualifications, it introduces The incidents of the drama.
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