This book presents a fresh perspective on the works of canonical figures of Sanskrit literature. In the process, it raises interesting questions: Is Vālmīki’s Sīta a feminist archetype? Is infidelity a virtue of Cārudatta of the play, Mṛichchhakatika? Is Mudrārākṣasa of the seventh century an existential play? It answers such queries convincingly in a thoughtful and informative prose. Narrating the Indian doctrine of Rasa, the book explores whether evocation of rasa is a subjective phenomenon or, as a famous neurologist averred, universal. Juxtaposing the heroism of Achilles and Rāma, the book tempts the reader to evaluate their poetic influence in building an ideal human society. Drawing parallels between the nobility of Cordelia of Shakespeare and Śakuntala of Kālidāsa, it highlights the power of love, be it filial or otherwise. It is through such refreshing explorations in an engaging style that this book introduces Sanskrit literature to the modern reader.

This book presents a fresh perspective on the works of canonical figures of Sanskrit literature. In the process, it raises interesting questions: Is VÄ lmÄ«kiâ (TM)s SÄ«ta a feminist archetype? Is infidelity a virtue of CÄ rudatta of the play, Má1>ichchhakatika? Is MudrÄ rÄ ká1£asa of the seventh century an existential play? It answers such queries convincingly in a thoughtful and informative prose. Narrating the Indian doctrine of Rasa, the book explores whether evocation of rasa is a subjective phenomenon or, as a famous neurologist averred, universal. Juxtaposing the heroism of Achilles and RÄ ma, the book tempts the reader to evaluate their poetic influence in building an ideal human society. Drawing parallels between the nobility of Cordelia of Shakespeare and Åsakuntala of KÄ lidÄ sa, it highlights the power of love, be it filial or otherwise. It is through such refreshing explorations in an engaging style that this book introduces Sanskrit literature to the modern reader.

Philip F. Williams has published nine books in East Asian studies, including The Great Wall of Confinement (UCal, 2004), and has been Professor of Chinese at Massey University and Arizona State University. --

Including poetry whose masterful artistry addresses themes such as love, Indian epic and religion with as much aesthetic appeal as thematic, the poetry included in this set contains the poetry of well-known poets such as Vedánta Déshika while giving a voice to the work of other important writers such as Bhanu·datta who have been given less modern attention. Included in this set: Bhatti’s Poem: The Death of Rávana By Bhatti. Translated by Oliver Fallon. 550 pages / 978-0-8147-2778-2 The Birth of Kumára By Kali·dasa. Translated by David Smith. 360 pages / 978-0-8147-4008-8 “Bouquet of Rasa” & “River of Rasa” By Bhanu·datta. Translated by Sheldon I. Pollock. 475 pages / 978-0-8147-6755-9 Love Lyrics By Ámaru and Bhartri·hari. Translated by Greg Bailey. By Bílhana. Edited and translated by Richard F. Gombrich. 327 pages / 978-0-8147-9938-3 Messenger Poems By Kali·dasa, Dhoyi, and Rupa Go·svamin. Edited and translated by Sir James Mallinson. 293 pages / 978-0-8147-5714-7 Princess Kadámbari Volume 1 By Bana. Translated by David Smith. 490 pages / 978-0-8147-4080-4 The Rise of Wisdom Moon Krishna·mishra. Translated by Matthew Kapstein. With a foreword by J. N. Mohanty. 350 pages / 978-0-8147-4838-1 “Self-Surrender,” “Peace,” “Compassion,” and “The Mission of the Goose”: Poems and Prayers from South India Appayya Díkshita, Nilakantha Díkshita, and Vedánta Déshika. Translated by Yigal Bronner and David Shulman. With a foreword by Gieve Patel. 316 pages / 978-0-8147-4110-8 Seven Hundred Elegant Verses By Go·várdhana. Translated by Friedhelm Hardy. 360 pages / 978-0-8147-3687-6

Includes biographical information of poets; work is divided into eleven sections based on chronology.

A Poem at the Right Moment collects, and preserves, poems—called catus—that have circulated orally for centuries in South India. The poems are remarkable for their wit and precision, their lyrical insight on the commonplace, their fascination with sensual experience, and their exploration of the connection between language and desire. Taken together the catus offer a penetrating critical vision and an understanding of the classical traditions of Telugu, Tamil, and Sanskrit. Each poem is presented in a contemporary English translation along with the Indian-language original. An introduction and a concluding essay explore in detail the stories and texts that comprise the catu system. This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press’s mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1998.