Even when the milk pot was broken, why did the milkmaid laugh? This was a certain riddle that, it is heard, arose during the lifetime of Kālidāsa. Whether it happened or not, whether it concerned Kālidāsa or someone else - when it comes to the life story of Kālidāsa or this particular riddle, there exists a kind of dense fog of uncertainty. Therefore, it is not possible to speak authoritatively on this matter. As for me, regarding this traditionally handed-down question, the only inquiry is this: Even when the milk pot was broken, why did the milkmaid laugh? Based on this riddle, a poetic narrative unfolds a poem named "Aṅgāra-nūpuram" (translated as The Fire Anklet, or Kaṇal Chilampu in Tamil).
