Poets on Poetics: Literature as Sanskrit Poets See It

Literature Nov 29, 2021

Vālmīki, Vyāsa

Rāma savoured the recital amid a large group of literary aficionados: sa cāpi rāmaḥ pariṣadgataḥ (1.4.36). This is arguably the best way to appreciate art becau...

Shatavadhani Dr. R. Ganesh | Trans: Shashi Kiran B N

Literature Dec 06, 2021

Bhagavān Vyāsa

In these verses Vyāsa has succinctly described the central focus of his poem and the nature of its characters. This is the way of great poets: they present the...

Shatavadhani Dr. R. Ganesh | Trans: Shashi Kiran B N

Literature Dec 20, 2021

Bhagavān Vyāsa - 3

In the next verse Vyāsa describes a defining trait of great poets. He intends this as a lodestar of sorts of his work: इतिहासप्रदीपेन मोहावरणघातिना। लोकगर...

Shatavadhani Dr. R. Ganesh | Trans: Shashi Kiran B N

Literature Jan 03, 2022

Bhagavān Vyāsa - 4

               At the outset of the Mahābhārata Vyāsa outlines its literary qualities that...

Shatavadhani Dr. R. Ganesh | Trans: Shashi Kiran B N

Literature Jan 17, 2022

Vyāsa, Aśvaghoṣa

Modern literary theory usually insists that a poet should not come in the way of the natural development of events and characters. If he gets personally involve...

Shatavadhani Dr. R. Ganesh | Trans: Shashi Kiran B N

Literature Jan 24, 2022

Aśvaghoṣa, Śūdraka

Aśvaghoṣa clearly states that his work is principally a scripture. It is structured as a poem, yes, but that is only a veneer, a convenient pretence. Neverthele...

Shatavadhani Dr. R. Ganesh | Trans: Shashi Kiran B N