The Cambridge History of India, Vol. I: Ancient India v1.c30.37

v1.c30.37

Some of the events of Pushyamitra's reign are also reflected in the earliest of Kālidāsa's dramas, the *Mālavikāgnimitra*, the plot of which turns on the love of Agnimitra, king of Vidiçā and the viceroy of his father Pushyamitra, for Mālavikā, a princess of Vidarbha (Berār) living at his court in disguise. The play was produced before another viceregal court at Ujjain on the occasion of the Spring Festival in some year c. 400 a.d. during the reign of Chandragupta II Vikramāditya. Like nearly all Sanskrit dramas, it is little more than a story of intrigue. Its main interest is anything but historical; but some of its characters represent real personages, and certain references to the history of the adjacent kingdom of Vidiçā are appropriately introduced in the last Act. It would be unreasonable to suppose that these had no foundation in fact.