Kalidas existed in the fourth or fifth century CE. He was a classical Sanskrit author and he is considered one of India’s greatest poet and playwright. When one reads about his life, one is amazed.

He was the son of a Brahmin and was considered very stupid. He had been orphaned at a tender age and was adopted by an ox-driver. He was a beautiful boy. One day he was sitting on a leafy branch and while he was on the branch, he decided to hack it. Of course, what happened was that he fell down. His fall made the people laugh in the village for days on end.

Then some cunning Brahmins decided to trick a proud princess, who wished to marry a scholar. This princess had humiliated them many times in debates. They coached Kalidas and took him to the princess. They said that he had taken a vow of silence. So, when she asked him questions, he gesticulated.

The pandits translated the gestures. She was very impressed and she got married to him. On their wedding night, he said something silly. The princess realized that she had married a fool. She threw him out from the palace. He prayed to Ma Kali for wisdom, and he started studying. She blessed him and he started writing beautiful poetry.

Yesterday is but a dream,
Tomorrow is only a vision.
But today well lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness,
and every tomorrow a vision of hope.

A bee may be born in a hole in a tree, but she likes the honey of the lotus.

The mind of age is like a lamp running thin; One moment it is shining bright, then darkness closes in.

Aim Hrim Klim

Picture by W. Douglas – , Public Domain