The Sanskrit Drama in its Origin, Development, Theory & Practice c12.s2.1

c12.s2.1

The *Mālavikāgnimitra*² is unquestionably the first dramatic work³ of Kālidāsa; he seeks in the prologue to excuse his presumption of presenting a new play when tried favourites such as Bhāsa, Saumilla, and the Kaviputras exist, and in the *Vikramorvaçī* also he shows some diffidence, which has disappeared in the *Çakuntalā*. The great merits of the poet are far less clearly exhibited here than in his other plays, but the identity of authorship is unquestionable, and was long ago proved by Weber against the doubts of Wilson.