The Vidusaka or court jester in Sanskrit drama is the friend and close companion of the hero. He performs two functions in the Play-first, He serves comic figure who makes the audience laugh by his odd appearance, manner and his witty speech and secondly, a critic who deflates everyone around him through the exercise of a sharp and often caustic wit. Being a conventional character he is introduce more for the sake of form than plot. But Kalidasa creates him for more than this highly functional role. He is a jester, a usual role for Vidushaka, who makes light of the heavy weather, but he is also a vintage point from which we see another aspect of his master, the king Duhsanta.
And ill favour hunchback, Madhavya, the Vidusaka, is the butt of ridicule for the world, who in turn is the target of his wit, for he can laugh at himself. For example, at the opening of Act II, he make some pointed criticism of the King under the guise of Affectionate banter. He fast disguise his state of misery because of his being the friend and constant companion of the king (who is obsessed with the chase). He Misses the good life-good food, rest and sleep- "O, misery upon misery". Moreover we come to know about this Duhsanta's growing passion for Sakuntala through his speech- "... He (the king) chanced upon a beautiful hermit-girl-Sakuntala.... From that moment..... The very idea of returning to the capital finds no place in his thought....". His scenes of irony finds expression when he tells the king about his misery in the forest-
Madhavya: "... My hands are powerless to extend themselves in greeting..."(addressing the king)
King: "And what has paralyzed your limbs?"
Madhavya: "A fine thing to ask; do you hit me in the eye and then ask why it is watering?
We find Vidusaka sometimes critical of the king who abandons the affairs of the kingdom to lead the primitive life of foresters, chasing wild animals. he even snubs the general Bhadrasena that the king is 'recovering his true nature' and asks him not to fan the king's last for the chase.
Madhavya's witty comments effectively deflate the king whenever the letter talks about Sakuntala's charms. When Duhsanta explain Sakuntala's real parentage, to which Vidusaka's tart comment is :
"Oh! .... Like one whose palate jaded by enjoying delicate candies made of the sweetest dates hankers after a test of the sour tamarind, you too, sir, sated with the pleasure of the inner apartments, full of beauties, and each one a gem..... You are consume by this passion for a hermit-girl". Further, he sets against Duhsanta's phrase describing Sakuntala as "the flower of the fragrant Jasmine", his own of "the sour tamarind". Again, to the kings rapturous outburst regarding Sakuntala's shy responses, that concludes with-"Love neither shone radiant nor was it conclude; Vidusaka's quick retort is - "what, sir , did you then expect her to leap into your arms as soon as she set eyes on your Honour?"
Examples can be multiplied. But it is noticeable that Vidusaka's sharp, witty and humorous comments serve as a caricature of the romantic love between Duhsanta and Sakuntala. They also being an ironic and critical perspective of the court. But you remains as a loyal and true friend of the King till the end of act VI when he is send back to Hastinapur by the king to inform the chief minister Pisuna about the smooth running of administration in his absence. He is not seen again in Act VII.
Kalidasa has presented Madhavya as an ideal court jester whose job is to entertain the king. In this respect, he represents the Hasya Rasa(humour) in the Play. He not only helps the king in love adventure but keeps it a secret. He appears only when the situation demand. He is more than a jester in the Play. Herein lies the excellence of Kalidasa in creating the character of Vidusaka who, besides humour, provides certain insights into the character of the king.
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