Sanskrit Poetry from Vidyakara's Treasury [Paperback]

Vidyakara (Author), Daniel H. H. Ingalls (Translator)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 5, 2000 | ISBN-10: 0674788656 | ISBN-13: 978-0674788657 | Edition: 2nd

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.

Editorial Reviews

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 )

Elegant and sophisticated poetry...this is a superb work. (New York Times Book Review )

About the Author

David H. H. Ingalls was Wales Professor of Sanskrit, Emeritus, Harvard University.

Product Details

• Paperback: 621 pages
• Publisher: Belknap Press of Harvard University Press; 2nd edition (May 5, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0674788656
• ISBN-13: 978-0674788657
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #735,595 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ignore the previous review, December 15, 2005

By 

Douglas R. Brooks "D.R. Brooks" (Rochester, New York) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sanskrit Poetry from Vidyakara's Treasury (Paperback)

I am compelled to respond to the previous review suggesting a zero rating. Let's start with a few facts. Daniel H.H. Ingalls may very well have been the greatest Sanskritist of the 20th century. Harvard's Wales Professor for more than thirty odd years, he mentored more than he wrote but his fine scholarship in Indology is considered among the greatest efforts of our age, including this beautiful collection from the Subhasitaratnakosa. I would recommend you ignore the maglinantly ignorant, impenetrably stupid review above and read this as one of the most authentic and valuable contributions to Sanskrit literature in translation currently available.