Abhijnanshakuntalam in the light of Karuna Rasa

Abstract

The theory of Rasa has been mentioned in the sixth chapter of ancient Sanskrit text in Natyashastra. There are eight kinds of Rasas and these are produced with the combination of Vibhava, Anubhava and Vyabhicharibhava. It is a combination of word and its sense which blesses the reader with an emotional effect. It classifies the dramatic content on the basis of emotions. These emotions are a sophisticated concept of the response to the art. In production of a play, Rasa is created by the actor, is enjoyed by the spectator. This theory is mostly applicable to dance-drama. Kalidasa was a great poet of Sanskrilt language in India. His works mainly based on Mahabharata and Puranas. Abhinjnanshakuntalam, a play by Mahakavi Kalidasa, tells the story of king Dusyanta who meets Shakuntala while on a hunting trip