Mālavikāgnimitra the stage-manager himself in his concluding speech in the prologue introduces the name of some important character of the play and thus opens the main plot of the drama: (of. Mal. देव्या इव धारिण्याः सेवादक्षः परिजनोऽयं Shak. एष राजेव दुष्यन्तः सारङ्गेणातिरंहसा). However, according to the old school of dramaturgy it is believed that there is hardly any point capable of creating a distinction between these two types of prologues and so it is held that Kalidasa had uniformity in following only one type of prologue, namely, the Prayôgatishaya.
The Theme of the Play :-Vikramorvashi, quite similar to the other two dramas of Kalidasa, is an erotic play and has for its plot the love-story of the king Pururavas of Pratişthan and Urvashi a celestial damsel. In Shakuntala also, he seeks for his plot a love-episode in the account of Dushyanta's life with a daughter of a celestial damsel, Menakā, by name. In Malavikagnimitra too, there is an attempt to achieve Malavika, an aristocratic girl by the king Agnimitra of the Shunga dynasty.
Hero of the Play:It is the lunar race of the kings that provided Kalidasa with two heroes for his principal dramas, viz, one in Pururayas in Vikramorvashiam and the other Dushyanta of Shākuntalam (Vide pp. 37 & 39-Introdn.) His heroes come from a high family and are all kings of high reputation and prowess. Kalidasa has a fancy of selecting such heroes and portraying them as great warriors so much so that many of them are the Commanders of the divine army. The reader will find that all the descendents of Raghu's race among the Ikshwakoos had an access with their chariots to Indra's paradise (Cf. आनाकरथवर्त्मनाम्). Similarly the hero of the Vikramorvashiam is the best ally of Lord Indra. (Vide: Chitraratha's request to the hero to make Urvashi over personally to Indra -Act I and Indra's message in V Act भवांश्च सांयुगीनः सहायः P. 254 Vikr."). No less is his Dushyanta who goes to the Heavens with his chariots to defeat the demons at the desire of Indra, who honours him by occupying a common seat with him, (Ref. Act. VII. 2). His Agnimitra too is, no doubt, painted to be a great hero and an egoist, but his prowess is limited to terrestrial feats only. As men his heroes are very intelligent, generous and shrewd and godfearing as well. His Pururavas is a regular observer of religious rites (Ref. "सूर्योपस्थाननिवृत्तं पुरूरवसं P. 10) 18 brave and a
