मेनकाविश्वामित्रम् (नाटकम्)- Menaka Visvamitram (A Drama)

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The Menaka-Visvamitram composed by Dr. H.N. Dikshit in Sanskrit language is a very interesting drama, which consists of eight acts wisely arranged in the light of relevant aspects of the Indian dramaturgy. There is no doubt that the author has taken in his hand a very fresh and still untouched theme and has knit a very attractive and heart touching story through the multifarious events of human life. So it is hoped that the readers will certainly find something new and believable sentiments of human beings, which have been neglected by the great authors of Sanskrit Literature like Vedavyasa and Kalidasa. Undoubtedly the imaginations in knitting the Plot of the drama are natural and highly appreciable. They appear very much true and genuine to the readers. It is believed that not only the plot, but the characters, the poetic interest, the language, the dialogues, the metres, the Songs, the theme etc. are also certainly very much pleasant in this dramatic composition. The supreme thing which will create the utmost interest in the readers and the spectators is the characterisation of Menaka and Visvamitra in a very natural way. Therefore, the genuine sympathy which they deserved will be developed amongst the people towards the conjugal love which took place between Menaka and Visvamitra, the great personalities of our ancient India.

Fortunately I taught the Abhijnana Sakuntalam for several years to the students. So every year it was very necessary for me in class at last to suggest and deal with some critical important questions about the text as to judge the genius of Kalidasa, the great dramatist of the world of the Sanskrit Literature; and still I fairly remember that the characterisation always stood as an important and a very interesting question amongst all of them. In accordance with it Dusyanta, Kanva, Durvasa, Sarngarava, Saradvata, Vidūsaka, Šakuntala, Anasuya, Priyamvada, Gautami etc. were always considered as important characters; but Visvamitra and Menaka were always neglected. I felt that Kalidasa also very slightingly mentioned their names in his drama. So there was none either to ask or to know about them. But I always had a sincere sympathy with both of them; because the sexual companionship between Menaka and Visvamitra who were the great personalities of that time in their respective fields, gently had a heart touching significance in my opinion. I agree to this fact that Menaka was under the pressure of Indra when she reached Visvamitra and began to entice him towards herself, but after having come into the close contact with Visvamitra, she must not be supposed to remain the same, particularly when she gave birth to his baby. My mind is never ready to accept that any woman who legally and morally either has been or can be one's beloved wife, leaves her newly-born baby and her sincere lover; and in the same way I see none of men who is well-to-do in all the aspects of social values, forgets suddenly his beloved wife unless he is accursed. Even in the society of animals, birds etc. such a hard-heartedness and cruelty are not seen anywhere in the entire world. To me it seems an unbelievable the worst blemish on the most revered holy motherhood. Therefore the legend, regarding the close union of Menaka and Visvamitra, as such, is not acceptable to me at all; but this legend drew my attention so deeply that I thought to introduce this unique pair to the field of Sanskrit Literature with my own views and began to compose a drama pertaining to the conjugal love between Menaka and Visvamitra with possible social and poetical justice for them; and the result of that is now in your hand in the form of this book under the title as 'Menaka-Visvamitram' written in our Sanskrit language.