Finally, the debate was arranged. It was decided
that debate will be through gestures. They asked Kalidas to respond
to gestures made by Vidyottama by only gestures. All those men
decided to fight it collectively. They told princess that they will
convey the meaning of gestures made by Kalidas to her as they had
been staying with him for a long time. She agreed.
Debate began. She first raised her fore finger
meaning ‘God is one’. Kalidas thought she was saying
‘One’ so he responded with two fingers up meaning ‘Two
is better than one’. Those men told the princess, ‘You
are saying God is one. Right?’ She said ,’Yes’.
They explained that Kalidas was saying,’There are two entities:
God and Soul’
She then signaled with open palm with all five
fingers straight. Kalidas thought she wanted to slap him and
therefore responded with fist implying if she slapped him, he would
give her punch. Those scholars explained,’Through five fingers,
you suggested that there are five senses. He is replying that one
must have control over them.’ She agreed to the explanation and
the debate continued. In the end, she accepted the defeat.
They were married. Kalidas was told not to speak
till the marriage is over. After the marriage they were sitting in
the balcony in the night. Vidyottama said in Sanskrit,’See
those stars. How nice they look!’ Kalidas did not understand
anything. He uttered some words incoherently. He could not even speak
the vernacular language clearly and correctly. Vidyottama repeated
her sentence. Again there was some stupid response. She realized that
she was tricked and that her husband was a total idiot.
She angrily pushed him. He fell down from the
balcony. He was snubbed by his wife. The disgrace was heart felt. He
decided to learn the Sanskrit. He went to Kashi with determination of
acquiring knowledge and returned with complete mastery over the
language.
When he reached the home and said in
Sanskrit,’Open the door, beautiful lady!’. Vidyottama
said in Sanskrit ‘Asti Kaschid Vagvisheshah’ meaning ‘It
seems there is some scholar at the door’ Kalidas wrote three
famous Sanskrit epic poems on these three words. KumarSambhavam
begins with word ’Astyustarsyam...’ , Meghadutam with
‘Kaschitkanta..’ and Raghuvansham with ‘Vagarthviv...’
and became the most talented poet and writer of India till date.