DHAARINI
Dhaarini
was a queen of the king Agnimitra in the play Malavika-Agnimitram
in Sanskrit written by the great poet Kalidasa.
Kalidasa’s skill in
characterisation comes out best in the female characters of this play. He presents two opposite types of womanly
character, the magnanimous Dhaarini (the queen and the first
wife of Agnimitra) and the jealous Iraavati (the queen and the
second wife of Agnimitra) whose traits are gradually revealed with the
progress of the plot.
No
doubt at the outset Dhaarini jealously guards the impressive personality of Malavika
(the heroine of the play Malavika-Agnimtram) from the sight of the king
(the hero Agnimitra). She even
tries to prevent the scheme of Vidhushaka (jester) to display the dance
of Malavika before the king from being carried out, but yields eventually. As the plot progress, her yields
eventually.
As
the plot progresses, her magnanimity asserts itself. She forgives the faults of the king. She promises Malavika her desired object if
the Asoka tree puts forth blossom in five days. She is charitable to the Vidhushaka, though
conscious of his complicity in the love-intrigues of the king. She id moved to pity when a snake is supposed
to have bitten him and offers him her signet-ring for effecting his cure from
poison readily with a demur. She is
tolerant when the misuse of her signet-ring comes to light, and actually sends
word to Iravati that she imprisoned Malavika and Bakulavalika (servant maid to
Dhaarini) only to respect her wishes, but that she would like to fulfil the
desire of the king.
As
an ideal Hindu wife, Dhaarini subordinates her interests to those of her
husband (the hero and the king Agnimitra).
She is ever cordial and respectful towards his despite his
vagaries. She does not utter a harsh
word towards him even under great provocation.
Her utmost hard behaviour towards her erring husband consists in a mere
passing thought- “Aho avinaya Aaryaputrasya means alas, the audacity of my lord”.
When
the noble heredity of Princess Malavika, comes to her notice, she sincerely repents
of having treated her as a maid-servant.
Genial in temper, cordial in words and acts, dignified in behaviour and
stately in her manners.
Dhaarini
is quite an impressive character. In her
association with the learned Kausiki and gifts to Brahmanic-scholars on
hearing her son’s expedition for the steering of the sacrificial horse comes
out her religious temperament. Her
attititude towards Malavika beginning from the initiation in dance down to her
admittance in the royal harem reveals her kindliness. Her nobility of character comes out in her
acquaintance in the advent of a rival wife, a featurepraised by the learned
Kausiki thus “Pratipakshenaapi patim sevanthe bharthruvatsalaah saadhvyah means
chaste wives to whom husbands are dear serve their lords even by consenting to
the admission of a rival wife”.
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