CC - I : Write a short note on the impact of the cause of Durvasa on the life of Shakuntala in act IV / or the dramatic significance of Durvasa's curse

In act IV of Kalidasa's play "Abhijnanashakuntalam", the cruel curse is showered on Shakuntala who, being absent-minded and lost in her thoughts of King king Duhsanta, has neglected the honored guest Durvasa presence at the hermitage. In the passionate love episode of King Duhsanta and Shakuntala, it is necessary to introduced the theme of separation which is embodied by Durvasa curse. It makes their love more intense and profound. As Tagore has rightly pointed out-"Durvasa's curse brings about Shakuntala's fall and her redemption through penitence...her love will find fulfillment in separation".

                    In fact, Durvasa's curse is verily significant form aesthetic point of view. Kalidasa could not have achieved tragic effect of the play without this curse. It can, at best, be seen as fate or Karma (i.e. simple acceptance of life). Kalidasa source life as it is in all its beauty and Splendor as well as its inexplicable vagaries which bring misfortunes deservedly or undeservedly. As, S.K. De has beautiful pointed out that "the curse of Durvasa's plays the part of a stern but beneficent providence". After all, life he is not a matter of smooth-sailing - "the course of true love never did run smooth" -as goes the keynote of romantic love. One has to undergo a lot of sorrows and sufferings, miseries and misfortune, woes and distress in the course of fulfillment of love. In this respect, Durvasa's curse provides a dynamism to the play, thereby bringing about a great transformation in life and perception of both the hero and the heroine. So, it is necessary to follow the curse-fall-restoration motif in the play.

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