Synopses & Reviews
In this rich collection of Sanskrit verse, the late Daniel Ingalls provides English readers with a wide variety of poetry from the vast anthology of an eleventh-century Buddhist scholar.
Although the style of poetry presented here originated in royal courts, Ingalls shows how it was adapted to all aspects of life, and came to address issues as diverse as love, sex, heroes, nature and peace. More than thirty years after its original publication, Sanskrit Poetry continues to be the main resource for all interseted in this multifaceted and elegant tradition.
Review
These flowering--seemingly easy--translations are delightful to read...'Blossoming of Love,' 'Love in Enjoyment,' and a few others, celebrate sex play that is sensuous and ecstatic, yet not lacking artistry and taste...'Characterizations,' 'Old Age,' 'the Hero,' various gods--on and on, there is an inexhaustible variety of subject, style, and tone...One is particularly grateful to Professor Ingalls for proving that it is delightful poetry even in translation...[He] carefully introduces Sanskrit poetry, as to form, metrics, imagery, poetics in general, so that one guesses the power and elegance possible in a tradition so subtly analyzed by its critics. Poetry
Review
Elegant and sophisticated poetry...this is a superb work. New York Times Book Review
About the Author
David H. H. Ingallswas Wales Professor of Sanskrit, Emeritus, <>Harvard University.
Table of Contents
General Introduction
The Anthology
1.-3. The Buddha and the Bodhisattvas
4. Siva
5. Siva's Household
6. Visnu
7. The Sun
8. Spring
9. Summer
10. The Rains
11. Autumn
12. Early Winter
13. Late Winter
14. Kama
15. Adolescnece
16. Young Women
17. The Blossoming of Love
18. Words of the Female Messenger
19. Love in Enjoyment
20. The Evidence of Consummation
21. The Woman Offended
22. The Lady Parted from Her Lover
23. The Lover Separated from His Mistress
24. The Wanton
25. The Lady's Expression of Anger at Her Messenger
26. The Lamp
27. Sunset
28. Darkness
29. The Moon
30. Dawn
31. Midday
32. Fame
33. Allegorical Epigrams
34. Breezes
35. Characterizations
36. Greatness
37. Good Men
38. Villians
39. Poverty and Misers
40. Substantiations
41. Flattery of Kings
42. Discouragement
43. Old Age
44. The Cremation Ground
45. The Hero
46. Inscriptional Panegyrics
47. Mountains
48. Peace
49. Miscellaneous
50. Praise of Poets
Appendix: Punning Verses
A Note on the Pronounciation of Sanskrit Words
References
Index of Authors
General Index