Buy New
 

or
Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering.
Buy Used
Used - Very Good See details
$4.00 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details

or
Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering.
 
   
Express Checkout with PayPhrase
What's this? | Create PayPhrase
More Buying Choices
Have one to sell? Sell yours here
The Complete Kama Sutra: The First Unabridged Modern Translation of the Classic Indian Text
 
 
Tell the Publisher!
I’d like to read this book on Kindle

Don’t have a Kindle? Get your Kindle here, or download a FREE Kindle Reading App.

The Complete Kama Sutra: The First Unabridged Modern Translation of the Classic Indian Text [Unabridged] [Paperback]

Alain Daniélou (Translator)
4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (35 customer reviews)

List Price: $19.95
Price: $13.57 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details
You Save: $6.38 (32%)
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
In Stock.
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. Gift-wrap available.
Want it delivered Friday, September 10? Choose One-Day Shipping at checkout. Details
31 new from $7.91 219 used from $0.01 4 collectible from $5.00

Formats

Amazon Price New from Used from
Hardcover, Unabridged $19.77  
Paperback, Unabridged $13.57  

Frequently Bought Together

The Complete Kama Sutra: The First Unabridged Modern Translation of the Classic Indian Text + The Complete Illustrated Kama Sutra + The Modern Kama Sutra: The Ultimate Guide to the Secrets of Erotic Pleasure
Price For All Three: $43.64

Show availability and shipping details

Buy the selected items together
  • In Stock.
    Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
    Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details

  • The Complete Illustrated Kama Sutra$16.50

    In Stock.
    Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
    Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details

  • The Modern Kama Sutra: The Ultimate Guide to the Secrets of Erotic Pleasure$13.57

    In Stock.
    Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
    Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details


Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought


Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

The galaxy of pleasures in Alain Daniélou's translation of the Kama Sutra takes you back to an India where sexuality was an integral part of life and an avenue to spiritual bliss. As Devadatta Shastri says in his commentary: "At the moment when the peak of bliss is attained, the internal and external world vanish. The man and woman cease to be separate entities and lose themselves in the beatitudes of being." Daniélou's elegant rendering includes not only the entire sutra, much of which is excluded in other versions, but two essential commentaries as well. More than just a pillow book, the Kama Sutra is a guide to the labyrinth of sexual etiquette, from how to bathe before meeting a lover to how lovers should entertain each other after making love. Admittedly, the text is dated and culture bound in places; it can be chauvinistic, bizarre, and even violent. The commentators are careful to point out, however, that the work is an overview of all sexual practices, some of which are not recommended. Take from this encyclopedia of amour what you will and let it keep you moving down the path of spiritual practice. --Brian Bruya

From Library Journal

Long dismissed as a sort of Sanskrit Joy of Sex , the Kama Sutra , composed by Vatsyayana in the fourth century B.C., explores sexuality as an integral part of human existence. Arguing that happiness and moral duty ( dharma ) depend on elaborate social ritual to satisfy the essential needs of life, the Kama Sutra describes the practices, rituals, and lore of the erotic ( kama ) in human relations, both heterosexual and homosexual. Noted Indiologist Danielou provides a fluent and literal translation of the entire Sanskrit original with interpolated extracts from the 12th-century commentary by Yashodara and the modern Hindi commentary by Devadatta Shastri. This is an important advance over Burton's Victorian abridgment.
- T.L. Cooksey, Armstrong State Coll., Savannah, Ga.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Details

  • Paperback: 576 pages
  • Publisher: Inner Traditions; Unabridged edition (December 1, 1993)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0892815256
  • ISBN-13: 978-0892815258
  • Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1.7 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (35 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #469,775 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
    #21 in  Books > Nonfiction > Foreign Language Nonfiction > More Languages > Sanskrit

More About the Authors

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Inside This Book (learn more)
Browse and search another edition of this book.
Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Search Inside This Book:


What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

The Complete Kama Sutra: The First Unabridged Modern Translation of the Classic Indian Text
43% buy the item featured on this page:
The Complete Kama Sutra: The First Unabridged Modern Translation of the Classic Indian Text 4.0 out of 5 stars (35)
$13.57
The Complete Illustrated Kama Sutra
20% buy
The Complete Illustrated Kama Sutra 3.9 out of 5 stars (15)
$16.50
The Modern Kama Sutra: The Ultimate Guide to the Secrets of Erotic Pleasure
16% buy
The Modern Kama Sutra: The Ultimate Guide to the Secrets of Erotic Pleasure 4.2 out of 5 stars (9)
$13.57
365 Sex Positions: A New Way Every Day for a Steamy, Erotic Year
11% buy
365 Sex Positions: A New Way Every Day for a Steamy, Erotic Year 4.0 out of 5 stars (13)
$12.21

Tags Customers Associate with This Product

 (What's this?)
Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
 

Your tags: Add your first tag
 

Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store

If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store. Learn more

 

Customer Reviews

35 Reviews
5 star:
 (20)
4 star:
 (5)
3 star:
 (4)
2 star:
 (2)
1 star:
 (4)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.0 out of 5 stars (35 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
114 of 118 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book, November 27, 2000
This review is from: The Complete Kama Sutra: The First Unabridged Modern Translation of the Classic Indian Text (Paperback)
I bought this book a few years ago and is one of the most intriguing books I have read. It gives an unique perspective at the life of ancient India (c 100-500AD) on how the people lived and the society flourished. What strikes most is when ancient India was talking about souls and spirits, on how life is vain etc, here is a book that says "being materialistic is not bad". If the society didnt consider that such a book isnt a blasphemy how great it should have been. And the book survived! Apart from the usual sexual poses, Kamasutra, is a history book. It also lists the 64 ancient arts of India, which I was trying to find for more than a decade and I never quiet expected to find in this book. Also the lives of courtesans are an interesting read.

Alan Danileou's translation is straightforward and it also includes commentaries on KS by other authors which helps to know different views. Though it lacks pictures (precisely the reason I bought it - not to get distracted from the original composition) it is a much better translation than Richard Burton's (which also I own). At times Richard gets squeaky in explaining very "intimate" things (its not a complete translation, looks like he left things that are too un-Victorian to translate) but Alan is more straightforward and complete.

Also translated are the chemistry of love potions, how to make money (of course not relevant to modern times) etc. If it contained the original Sanskrit quotations, I would have enjoyed the poetic flow. Anyways it adorns my book case.

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No


 
62 of 62 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A Translation par Excellence, April 28, 1998
By A Customer
This review is from: The Complete Kama Sutra: The First Unabridged Modern Translation of the Classic Indian Text (Paperback)
It was the film "Kama Sutra" that led me to this classic. The idea of someone documenting various forms of making love was intriguing and I started exploring further on the original work. Once I got past a few mindnumbing translations, I discovered this work. I saw my initial curiosity turning into fascination at first, but when I finished the work I had nothing but respect for this work ("Eroticism is firstly a search for pleasure, and the goal of the techniques of love is to attain a paroxysm considered by the Upanishads ( holy texts) as a perception of the divine state, which is infinite delight ").Alan Danielou's seems to have impressive credentials that bring an impeccable authenticity to this work.

There is hardly a subject the author has not dealt with. If the range of subjects dealt with fascinates you (marriage, adultery, prostitution, group sex, sadomasochism, male and female homosexuality, and transvestitism) the scientific approach and the depth of classification in dealing with those subjects might bewilder you. ("There are different types of men and women according to their sizes of the organs, their moment of sexual enjoyment, and the violence of their sexual impulse"). The part dealing with occult practices is a blast. These practices include ointments for the body, marks on the forehead, powders sprinkled over the woman and substances that she be made to ingest, the surprising things she must be shown, as well as the means and remedies for subjugating her. This section also manifest the thoroughness of the research done almost 2000 years back.

While the considerable pains the author has undergone to protect the integrity of the original work makes this a classic, it is possible that at times the casual reader will be hard pressed to follow. The author emphasizes that this is not a pornographic work and is merely an impartial and systematic study of one of the essential aspects of existence. There is ample proof of that throughout the book.

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No


 
127 of 136 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars The Complete Kama Sutra is definitly the way to go!, September 23, 1999
By A Customer
This review is from: The Complete Kama Sutra: The First Unabridged Modern Translation of the Classic Indian Text (Paperback)
This book was incredible. I felt a bit overwhelmed at first. So much writing and no pictures to show you different positions, etc. But it was so informative I had no idea how much I would learn from just one book. A definite must for anyone who is slightly insecure or bored with tradition sexual intercourse. (is there even such a thing any more?) I think that anyone who reads this book will definitly become a better lover, on one level or another.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No

Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
 
 
 
Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars great...
the purchase was easy, the product was correct, and it arrived before I expected...thank you!
Published 1 month ago by the bees knees

1.0 out of 5 stars Don't waste your time
The book teaches nothing. If you want positions, which is the main reason I wanted a Kama Sutra book, go with one that has pictures and is all about positions. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Carmen Y. Strutz

5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoy the read
I would like to say that I highly enjoyed reading this work by the author. It is an excellent piece of work on its own basis without the added factor that it is a translation of... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Silent Scribe

1.0 out of 5 stars Not worth the paper it's printed on
This was NOT what I was looking for, it has not one illustration and is written in a way that is very hard to understand. Read more
Published 13 months ago by B. Spencer

2.0 out of 5 stars Not quite what was expected.
Mostly just common sense, aside from the information about youthful experiences, creeped out by that information.
Published 14 months ago by D. Patterson

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding translation of a classic text
I don't doubt that many people buy this work because of the Kama Sutra's racy reputation. Despite the fact that Danielou is not shy about translating issues of same-sex... Read more
Published 22 months ago by Christopher R. Travers

5.0 out of 5 stars WARNING!
I purchased this book after it being recommended by a friend of mine. While reading it, my husband comments "there sure aren't a lot of pictures. Read more
Published on April 23, 2008 by Nikki Lee

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book
This is a great book my husband is actually reading it with me and he hates to read. It has also improved our marrige and love life
Published on March 30, 2008 by Danielle Henrichs

5.0 out of 5 stars My Favorite...Sorry Sir Richard
I have read both Sir Richard Burton's translation and this one, and I'm sorry to say that I like this one best (sorry because I have enormous admiration for Burton). Read more
Published on January 7, 2008 by Artemus Q. Kraig

5.0 out of 5 stars The Complete Kama Sutra
An excellent informative book.
Must be approached as a religion and not a list of sexual positions.
otherwise you will be disappointed.

D
Published on September 8, 2007 by D. Crane

Only search this product's reviews



Customer Discussions

This product's forum
Discussion Replies Latest Post
No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
 


Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
Search all Amazon discussions
   


Listmania!

Create a Listmania! list



Look for Similar Items by Category


Look for Similar Items by Subject

Ad
 

Feedback

If you need help or have a question for Customer Service, contact us.
 Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
Is there any other feedback you would like to provide?

Your comments can help make our site better for everyone.


Your Recent History

 (What's this?)

After viewing product detail pages or search results, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in.