How do other Sanskrit/Indian authors measure up to him? I'm gonna read him after getting through some of the major Chinese poets but it's hard to tell based on Wiki articles whether or not authors like Bharavi, Magha, Bhasa, Amaru, etc. are worth reading for a non-specialist. The epics also seem hard to judge quality-wise but I'm interested in reading them regardless just as examples of epic.
Shakespeare is best with Shakespeare's education, but he manages to reach everyone who reads him without it. So is the case with Calidas.
[...]
He is as far above all the other Indians as Shakespeare is above the other English. Not that there aren't others who approach him, but he stands at the summit and stands up to years of close reading and rereading.
Mahabharat varies very much between versions, except Bhagavadgita. It's worth knowing the stories Calidas adapts from it in order to see how much he improves on them. In this way he is eerily similar to Shakespeare, enough perhaps to prove the truth of reincarnation.
Shakuntal is his best play and Kumarasambhava his best poem.
>Not that there aren't others who approach him, but he stands at the summit and stands up to years of close reading and rereading.
Yeah, I was just curious which ones you feel are qualified to be considered as occupying the next "tier" down from him. I.e., who are the Milton and Chaucer to his Shakespeare?
I agree with the philosophy of quality over quantity, but I also like the idea of having at least a decent understanding and assessment of the broader picture of any given literary tradition.
Bhasa and Bhavabhuti
Awesome, thank you. I'm planning on reading the relevant parts of MacDonnell's History to get a sense of what I should check out but as I alluded to there doesn't seem to be a ton of crossover interest in Sanskrit lit in general, and it's hard to get a broader gestalt picture of who is or isn't important, so your input is very helpful.
Where should I start with him? And if I did would I be able to pick up on references he makes? Or do I have to know of any authors and their works that came before him? Like how the case is with Shakespeare
Shakespeare is best with Shakespeare's education, but he manages to reach everyone who reads him without it. So is the case with Calidas.
How do other Sanskrit/Indian authors measure up to him? I'm gonna read him after getting through some of the major Chinese poets but it's hard to tell based on Wiki articles whether or not authors like Bharavi, Magha, Bhasa, Amaru, etc. are worth reading for a non-specialist. The epics also seem hard to judge quality-wise but I'm interested in reading them regardless just as examples of epic.
He is as far above all the other Indians as Shakespeare is above the other English. Not that there aren't others who approach him, but he stands at the summit and stands up to years of close reading and rereading.
Mahabharat varies very much between versions, except Bhagavadgita. It's worth knowing the stories Calidas adapts from it in order to see how much he improves on them. In this way he is eerily similar to Shakespeare, enough perhaps to prove the truth of reincarnation.
Shakuntal is his best play and Kumarasambhava his best poem.
>Not that there aren't others who approach him, but he stands at the summit and stands up to years of close reading and rereading.
Yeah, I was just curious which ones you feel are qualified to be considered as occupying the next "tier" down from him. I.e., who are the Milton and Chaucer to his Shakespeare?
I agree with the philosophy of quality over quantity, but I also like the idea of having at least a decent understanding and assessment of the broader picture of any given literary tradition.
Awesome, thank you. I'm planning on reading the relevant parts of MacDonnell's History to get a sense of what I should check out but as I alluded to there doesn't seem to be a ton of crossover interest in Sanskrit lit in general, and it's hard to get a broader gestalt picture of who is or isn't important, so your input is very helpful.
4 weeks ago
Anonymous
Ashvaghosha too then if you want the full history
4 weeks ago
Anonymous
Yeah, honestly I'm much less interested in the Buddhist side of things but he definitely seems important.
No one cares streetshitter
Your ilk literally invented the biggest cancer the world has ever seen (industrialization).
The indian population has multiplied by 12 in the last 200 years, say "thank you europe sir".
Literally who?
pajeethic
I should read the Indians one day.
SAAAR
Hey, OP, why don't you link a pdf and epub of a good starter work of this person.
>this person
Idiot statement. Doesn't know the poet that changed Goethe's life.
https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Sacontala_(Jones_1870)
Both of them are equally irrelevant. Don't come at me
Vyasa over both
How do other Sanskrit/Indian authors measure up to him? I'm gonna read him after getting through some of the major Chinese poets but it's hard to tell based on Wiki articles whether or not authors like Bharavi, Magha, Bhasa, Amaru, etc. are worth reading for a non-specialist. The epics also seem hard to judge quality-wise but I'm interested in reading them regardless just as examples of epic.
Bharavi
Magha
Sriharsha too
Ty anon, appreciate it. First two rows are officially added to The List.
Where should I start with him? And if I did would I be able to pick up on references he makes? Or do I have to know of any authors and their works that came before him? Like how the case is with Shakespeare
Shakespeare is best with Shakespeare's education, but he manages to reach everyone who reads him without it. So is the case with Calidas.
He is as far above all the other Indians as Shakespeare is above the other English. Not that there aren't others who approach him, but he stands at the summit and stands up to years of close reading and rereading.
Mahabharat varies very much between versions, except Bhagavadgita. It's worth knowing the stories Calidas adapts from it in order to see how much he improves on them. In this way he is eerily similar to Shakespeare, enough perhaps to prove the truth of reincarnation.
Shakuntal is his best play and Kumarasambhava his best poem.
>Not that there aren't others who approach him, but he stands at the summit and stands up to years of close reading and rereading.
Yeah, I was just curious which ones you feel are qualified to be considered as occupying the next "tier" down from him. I.e., who are the Milton and Chaucer to his Shakespeare?
I agree with the philosophy of quality over quantity, but I also like the idea of having at least a decent understanding and assessment of the broader picture of any given literary tradition.
Bhasa and Bhavabhuti
Awesome, thank you. I'm planning on reading the relevant parts of MacDonnell's History to get a sense of what I should check out but as I alluded to there doesn't seem to be a ton of crossover interest in Sanskrit lit in general, and it's hard to get a broader gestalt picture of who is or isn't important, so your input is very helpful.
Ashvaghosha too then if you want the full history
Yeah, honestly I'm much less interested in the Buddhist side of things but he definitely seems important.
Kumarasambhava and Raghuvamsha if you want poetry.
Shakuntala if you want a play.
Lope de Vega > your pajeet + your bong