कुमारसम्भवम् (महाकवि कालिदास - संस्कृत मूल एवं हिन्दी अनुवाद)

( 4 ) 5 Last but not the least, is the evidence of his style, which is quite different from that of the writers of the medieval Sanskrit period Kalidasa's style is simple, while the later writers find pleasure in embellished composition abounding in long compounds, difficult puns, etc It is on the basis of such evidence that scholars like Dr Peterson believe that 'Kalidâsa stands near the beginning of the Christian Era, if, indeed, he does not overtop it ' The main arguments of the other group may be put forth thus — 1 Kalidasa's language (specially his Prâkrita) and style show a clear advance over those of the two earlier poets, Bhâsa and Ashwaghosha, who flourished in the first century B C and first century A D respectively. 2 Kalidâsa's works point to the state of perfection of Sanskrit literature which was attained during the reign of the Gupta kings, which period is known in the history as the "Golden Age for Brahmanism and Sanskrit" 3 There is a probable reference to Chandragupta II Vikramaditya (413 A D) in the title of the Vikramorvashîyam, and to his son Kumaragupta in the name of the Kumâra- sambhavam, and the remarkable allusion to the horse-sacrifice in the Mâlavikâgnimitram may remind one of Samudragupta's horse-sacrifice 4 The works of Kâlidâsa seem to be describing the social, political, religious and economical conditions of the Gupta period 5 The allusion to the Hûna kings in the Raghuvamsham suggests that Kalidâsa lived after their invasion of the Punjab, which is dated in the sixth century A D