Erotic Poems from the Sanskrit : An Anthology

190 Pages·2017·1.084 MB·English

by  R. Parthasarathy

EROTIC POEMS`
from the
SANSKRIT
AN A NTH OLOGY
EDITED AND TRANSLATED BY
R. Farflzasaratlzy
L_ .4
TRANSLATIONS FROM THE ASIAN CLASSICS
Editorial Board
Wm. Theodore de Bary, Chair
Paul Anderer
Donald Keene
George A. Saliba
Haruo Shirane
Burton Watson
Wei Shang
EROTIC POEMS FROM THE SANSKRIT
Translations from the Asian Classics
Columbia University Press wishes to express its appreciation for assistance given by the Pushkin Fund
in the publication of this book.
Columbia University Press
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Copyright © 2017 Columbia University Press
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E-ISBN 978-0-231-54546-4
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Parthasarathy, R., 1934- editor, translator.
Title: Erotic poems from the Sanskrit : an anthology / [edited and translated by] R. Parthasarathy.
Description: New York : Columbia University Press, 2017. | Series: Translations from the Asian classics |
Includes bibliographical references nd index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2016059358 (print) | LCCN 2017019170 (ebook) | ISBN 9780231184380 (cloth : acid-
free paper) | ISBN 9780231184397 (pbk. : acid-free paper)
Subjects: LCSH: Erotic poetry, Sanskrit—Translations into English. | Sanskrit poetry—Translations into
English.
Classification: LCC PK4474.A3 (ebook) | LCC PK4474.A3 E76 2017 (print) | DDC 891/.2100803538—
dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2016059358
A Columbia University Press E-book.
CUP would be pleased to hear about your reading experience with this e-book at cup-
[email protected].
Cover design: Jordan Wannemacher
Cover illustration: Rādhā, Rajasthani, Kishangarh, ca. 1740–1748; courtesy of the National Museum,
New Delhi; © photo alamy.com
Erotic Poems from the Sanskrit
An Anthology
Edited and translated by
R. PARTHASARATHY
Columbia University Press   |   New York
For
Mohan
Arjun
Gautam and Masako
CONTENTS
Acknowledgments
Introduction
ABHINANDA
That’s How I Saw Her
AMARU
Who Needs the Gods?
In a Hundred Places
A Taste of Ambrosia
Pincers
The Bride
ANON
Lovers’ Quarrel
The Pledge
A Lover’s Welcome
Regret
Stonehearted
Feigning Sleep
Remorse
Walking the Street by Her House
The Sheets
A Woman Wronged
Aubade
Like the Wheels of a Chariot
The Word
An Invitation
The Traveler
The Devoted Wife
The Kingdom’s Happiness
Hair
Wild Nights
Thank Offering
At the Cremation Ground
On a Rainy Day
When Winter Comes
Jewels
The Creaking Bed
She Protests Too Much
She Doesn’t Let Go of Her Pride
The Ways of Love
A Lover’s Word
The Hawk
A Needle
Time Wasted
The Scholar’s Life
Foolish Heart
Supreme Bliss
BĀṆA
In a Corner of the Village Shrine
BHARTṚHARI
Wise Men
Poets’ Excesses
The Love Game
Hips
Fear of Death
Desire Alone
Adoration of Woman
The Poet Speaks to the King
Contentment
Man’s Life
Old Age
White Flag
BHĀSKARA II
Elementary Arithmetic
BHAVABHŪTI
The Critic Scorned
BHĀVAKADEVĪ
Bitter Harvest
BHOJA
Scrambling Out of the Water
BILHAṆA
Bite Marks
In Life After Life
All for Love
DEVAGUPTA
Drumbeats
DHARMAKĪRTI
The Way
JAGANNĀTHA PAṆḌITARĀJA
Indra’s Heaven
JAGHANACAPALĀ
Wife
KĀLIDĀSA
Flight of the Deer
Such Innocent Moves
Blessed Sleep
KARṆOTPALA
The Lamp
KEŚAṬA
The Camel
KṢEMENDRA
All Eyes on the Door
KṢITĪŚA
The Red Seal
KUMĀRADĀSA
Alba
KUṬALĀ
Furtive Lovemaking
MĀGHA
The Art of Poetry
Scent
MAHODADHI
Stop Being Willful
MORIKĀ
Don’t Go
MURĀRI
Hidden Fingernail Marks
An Actor in a Farce
RĀJAPUTRA PARPAṬI
Blow Out the Lamp
RĀJAŚEKHARA
Her Face
RUDRAṬA
What the Young Wife Said to the Traveler
ŚARAṆA
Girl Drawing Water from a Well
SIDDHOKA
The Empty Road
ŚĪLĀBHAṬṬĀRIKĀ
Then and Now
SONNOKA
Driven by Passion
ŚRĪHARṢA
The Smart Girl
In Her Direction
VALLAṆA
Sea of Shame
On the Grass