Fixing up of Some Variants from Kālidāsa

The article by Tapasvi Nandi argues that text-critical editions of Kālidāsa’s works, including those by the Sahitya Akademi, are incomplete because they fail to utilize and properly weigh all available research tools, particularly ancient alankāra literature and manuscript traditions. The author contends that editors should treat every manuscript as sacred and not dismiss older traditions, even if they belong to lost manuscripts, because they represent older textual lineages. Nandi asserts that classical alankāra theorists such as Vāmana, Ānandavardhana, Bhoja, Mammata, and Hemacandra are greater authorities than modern editors, as their works preserve variants and critical remarks on Kālidāsa’s poetry. To illustrate this, the author examines five verses from Kālidāsa’s *Abhijñāna-Śākuntalam* (Abh. $a), comparing variants found in the works of these alankāra theorists and their commentators against various printed editions of the play. The analysis reveals significant discrepancies in how different editors number verses, sequence them, and select textual variants, often without consistent methodology. For instance, Vāmana and Bhoja present multiple variants within the same edition, while Hemacandra’s readings are noted as more acceptable in some cases. The article also notes that commentators like Rāghava Bhaṭṭa, the Bala, and Udyota frequently support or suggest alternative readings, which editors often overlook or fail to integrate systematically. Nandi concludes that editing Kālidāsa’s works is a monumental task requiring rigorous critical engagement with all textual evidence, including alankāra literature and manuscript traditions. The author suggests that the L.D. Institute of Indology is well-positioned to undertake this challenge through collaborative scholarly effort. The article is supported by an appendix listing the specific editions and manuscripts consulted, including works like the *Kāvyālaṅkārasūtra* of Vāmana, the *Dhvanyāloka* of Ānandavardhana, the *Sṛṅgāraprakāśa* of Bhoja, and the *Kāvyopadeśa* of Hemacandra, among others.

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