Kálídása Boeken

Includes messenger poems that evoke the pain of separated sweethearts through the formula of an estranged lover pleading with a messenger to take a message to his or her beloved.

A well-known Sanskrit drama presented here in a bilingual translation.

A bi-lingual Sanskrit/English classic rarely available.

Long considered as Kalidasa's greatest work, Raghuvamsam is an epic poem in classical Sanskrit. It recounts the legendary tales of the Raghu dynasty, whose scions include Rama, the hero of the Ramayana. In this majestic mahakavya, Kalidasa invokes the whole gamut of literary flavours, ranging from the erotic and the heroic to the tragic, horrific and peaceful. The forbears and the descendants of Rama are all brought to life. Within these pages we see the ideal couple, Dilipa and Sudakshina, their son Raghu's valour and generosity, the tragic love of Aja and Indumati, the travails of Dasaratha, the feats of Kusha and Atithi, and finally, the dynasty's downfall with Sudarshana and Agnivarna. Composed in nineteen cantos, this mesmerizing, lyrical and very accessible new translation of Raghuvamsam will continue to enthrall readers with its insights into ancient India, its land, people and seasons, and its social and cultural values that are still relevant today.

The earthly King Pururavas rescues the celestial nymph Urvashi from a demon, and thus begins a majestic love story that brings heaven and earth together. Both are struck with Kama's arrow in their very first meeting, but each shies away from saying anything because the distance between them seems insurmountable. Even when they do confess their love, magical transformations and heavenly curses keep the lovers apart. Will Pururavas succeed in his quest for Urvashi?A magnificent drama based on an episode from the Rig Veda, Vikramorvashiyam is filled with dramatic turns of event, music, and dance. The scenes, characters, and dialogues are at once lively and theatrical as well as sensitive and speculative. Believed to be the second of Kalidasa's three plays, Vikramorvashiyam is an undisputed classic from ancient Indian literature. A.N.D. Haksar's brilliant new translation gives contemporary readers an opportunity to savor this delightful tale.

"Kalidasa's most famous play refashions an episode from the Mahabharata, magnificently dramatizing the love story of Shakuntala, a girl of semi-divine origin, and Dushyanta, a noble human king. After their brief and passionate, but secret, union at her father's forest ashram, Dushyanta must return to his capital. He gives Shakuntala his signet ring, promising to make her his queen when she joins him later. But, placed unawares under a curse, he forgets her - and she loses the ring that would have enabled him to recognize her. Will the lovers be reunited? The world's first full-length play centred on a comprehensive love story. The Recognition of Shakuntala is an undisputed classic of the ancient period. Vinay Dharwadker's sparkling new translation is the definitive poetic rendering of this romantic-heroic comedy for the twenty-first-century stage. His absorbing commentary and notes give comtemporary readers an unparalleled opportunity to savour the riches of a timeless text."--Cover jacket

Written by the greatest of the ancient Indian playwrights, this 5th-century work of Sanskrit drama offers a classic introduction to Indian theater and aesthetics. A king encounters a lovely maiden by chance, and the course of their passionate love sweeps the audience from a forest hermitage to a dazzling palace to ethereal celestial realms.

Touching Lives is not merely a chronicle of the community outreach of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). It is the story of journeys to far corners of India meeting people whose lives have been transformed by technology. It is the account of people who have forged a different destiny for themselves, breaking the cycle of poverty and helplessness, with a little help from ISRO. Throwing light on some of the million tiny revolutions sweeping the country, the book takes us from Jhabua to interior Karnataka, from the Sundarbans to Chamoli in Garhwal. It is our chance to meet everyday

In the modern technology-driven age of telephones and instant communication, what role do satellites play? How did these versatile and complicated machines come to be made? How are they put into orbit and how do they stay there?

The Blazing Sapphire or Ujjvala-nīlamaṇi is a Sanskrit work of poetry by Rūpa Gosvāmin, a 16th century disciple of saint Kṛṣṇa Caitanya (1486-1534 CE). Rūpa has written some of the finest poetry about the loves of Kṛṣṇa, Hindu god of love.