Author: A N D Haksar
Publisher: Indian Council for Cultural Relations
Year: 2002
Language: English
Pages: 203
ISBN/UPC (if available): 8175411163
Description
This is a comprehensive anthology of Sanskrit poetry in the best English translations available. The first ever of its kind, it brings together excerpts from a full range of original works, translated by over forty distinguished writers including poets and scholars, savants and seers, and two winners of the Nobel prize for Literature.
Sanskrit, with an unbroken literary tradition of at least three thousand years, is a major component of India’s cultural heritage. In present popular perception it is mostly known as the language of religion and philosophy. Here this perspective is broadened with a rich sampling from the treasure trove of Sanskrit verse, access to which has so far remained restricted for the general reader.
Drawing from sacred as well as classic and folk literature, this collection features a wide variety of poetry in translation. It includes nature hymns and mystic utterances; epic narratives and love lyrics; songs and reflections on the human condition; verses devotional and philosophic, heroic and tragic, erotic and satiric; courtly epigrams and inscriptions, and simple poems from the countryside.
English translations from Sanskrit have a history of over two centuries. The finest of these renderings have been compiled in this volume by a well-known Sanskritist to present the ancient language’s poetic splendour, not through learned discourse, but by letting the poetry speak for itself.
Contents
Foreword
Acknowledgements
Introduction
The Vedas
The Upanishads
Vyasa
Valmiki
Asvaghosha
Bhasa
Hala
Sudraka
Vishnu Sarma
Kalidasa
Syamilaka
Subandhu
Bharavi
Magha
Bhartrihari
Dharmakirti
Visakhadatta
Bana
Divakara
Amaru
Dandin
Kumaradasa
Bhatta Narayana
Sankara
Yasovarman
Saraha
Ravigupta
Kouhala
Govinda
Bhavabhuti
Vidya
Damodaragupta
Murari
Sila Bhattarika
Asaga
Vikatanitamba
Vallana
Abhinanda
Narayana
Damodaramisra
Rajasekhara
Kshemisvara
Siddha
Ananta
Kalasaka
Bhojya Deva
Atula
Kshemendra
Somadeva
Belhana
Dhanesvara
Jayadeva
Haribhatta
Manovinoda
Nayachandra Suri
Rupa Gosvamin
Jagannatha
Nilakantha Dikshita
Anonymous Verses from Anthologies
Other Anonymous Verses
A Seasonal anthology
Poetry From Inscriptions
Appendix
The Progress of Translation
The Poets
The Translators
Endnotes