Raghuvasa

Raghuvamsha (also Raghuvamsa) is a Sanskrit mahakavya (epic poem) by the classical poet Kalidasa. Composed around the 5th century CE, it is one of the most celebrated works of ancient Indian literature. The poem traces the legendary Raghu dynasty, telling the genealogical line from Raghu, through successive kings, to Dasharatha, the father of Rama. It presents episodes of conquest, renown, and virtuous rule, interwoven with mythic motifs and moral exempla. The work emphasizes dharma (duty) and kingship, while employing vivid descriptions and elaborate similes characteristic of Kalidasa’s style.

Raghuvamsha is organized into ten cantos (sargas). It blends historical-sounding narrative with mythological elements, drawing on religious and cultural imagery to convey ideals of courage, generosity, and righteous governance. Its language is refined Sanskrit, notable for ornate metaphors, rhetorical devices (alankara), and sculpted verse, contributing to the development of the mahakavya genre.

The text has had a lasting influence on Sanskrit literature and poetics. It helped cement Kalidasa’s reputation as a master poet and provided a model for later poets composing ornate dynastic epics. Manuscripts and commentaries proliferated in medieval India, and Raghuvamsha has been translated and studied in various languages, continuing to be a point of reference in discussions of classical Sanskrit meter, style, and narrative technique.