About the Book
Sanskrit, the
language of the elite in ancient India, inspired great literary works. This
collection contains adaptations of five famous plays from Sanskrit literature.
Shakuntala, by Kalidasa, tells of the
stirring romance between King Dushyanta and the
divinely beautiful, Shakuntala.
Urvashi, also by Kalidasa, tells
the story of a celestial dancer who is unable to forget a chance encounter with
a human king.
Adapted
from Bhasa's play Swapnavasavadatta,
Udayana is an exciting romance full of twists and
intrigues as is Ratnavali, said to be written by
Emperor Harsha.
Vasantasena, though a romance, has a political theme and has been
adapted from King Shudraka's Mrichchhkatikam.
SHAKUNTALA
When King Dushanta frist saw Shakuntala, He was struck by her incomparable beauty and
gentle character. He made her his wife and vowed totake
her back to his palace. But a curse from the sage Durvasa
erased her memory so completely from his mind that he failed to recognise her.
Much later, when the curse was broken he realised his mistake but it was too late .... or so it seemed to be.
The story
of Shakuntala first appeared in the Mahabharata. It
was later adapted into a play by the Sanskrit drornofist
ane poet, Kalidasa.
URVASHI
Urvashi's beauty takes King Pururavas'
breath away. He is besotted. He forgets his duties as a king and is
absent-minded with his wife, Aushinari. Both gods and
humans are involved in the dramatic twists and turns of his romance with the
charming apsara, who dances for Lord Indra himself. Eventually, stumbling through their highs
and lows, King Pururavas and Urvashi
finally find their way to everlasting joy.
UDAYANA
King Udayana was a lucky man. He was handsome and strong, and
had the love of two beautiful princesses. He also had the undying loyalty of
able ministers. They pulled every trick in the book to ensure that he overcame
his enemies and won back, not only his vast kingdom, but the happiness he
richly deserved.
VASANTASENA
Noble
though penniless, the handsome Charudatta is the love
of Vasantasena's life, but scoundrels and misguided
friends threaten their happiness. Their tale, told by Shudraka
in his Sanskrit play written 2,000 years ago, presents a picture of bustling
town life at the time. Excitement and adventure lurk around every corner, and
sudden twists and turns make this a classic nail-biting romantic thriller.
RATNAVALI
King Udayana was in a dilemma: he had won the love of the
beautiful Ratnavali, but how could he break the heart
of his queen, Vasavadatta? Was a chance shipwreck
going to wreck the peace and happiness of his home as well? Sagacious
statesmen, loyal friends and even talking birds help in a romance which reveals
all the subtleties of palace life so familiar to that master playwright, the
7th-century poet-king Harsha of Kanauj.
About the Book
Sanskrit, the
language of the elite in ancient India, inspired great literary works. This
collection contains adaptations of five famous plays from Sanskrit literature.
Shakuntala, by Kalidasa, tells of the
stirring romance between King Dushyanta and the
divinely beautiful, Shakuntala.
Urvashi, also by Kalidasa, tells
the story of a celestial dancer who is unable to forget a chance encounter with
a human king.
Adapted
from Bhasa's play Swapnavasavadatta,
Udayana is an exciting romance full of twists and
intrigues as is Ratnavali, said to be written by
Emperor Harsha.
Vasantasena, though a romance, has a political theme and has been
adapted from King Shudraka's Mrichchhkatikam.
SHAKUNTALA
When King Dushanta frist saw Shakuntala, He was struck by her incomparable beauty and
gentle character. He made her his wife and vowed totake
her back to his palace. But a curse from the sage Durvasa
erased her memory so completely from his mind that he failed to recognise her.
Much later, when the curse was broken he realised his mistake but it was too late .... or so it seemed to be.
The story
of Shakuntala first appeared in the Mahabharata. It
was later adapted into a play by the Sanskrit drornofist
ane poet, Kalidasa.
URVASHI
Urvashi's beauty takes King Pururavas'
breath away. He is besotted. He forgets his duties as a king and is
absent-minded with his wife, Aushinari. Both gods and
humans are involved in the dramatic twists and turns of his romance with the
charming apsara, who dances for Lord Indra himself. Eventually, stumbling through their highs
and lows, King Pururavas and Urvashi
finally find their way to everlasting joy.
UDAYANA
King Udayana was a lucky man. He was handsome and strong, and
had the love of two beautiful princesses. He also had the undying loyalty of
able ministers. They pulled every trick in the book to ensure that he overcame
his enemies and won back, not only his vast kingdom, but the happiness he
richly deserved.
VASANTASENA
Noble
though penniless, the handsome Charudatta is the love
of Vasantasena's life, but scoundrels and misguided
friends threaten their happiness. Their tale, told by Shudraka
in his Sanskrit play written 2,000 years ago, presents a picture of bustling
town life at the time. Excitement and adventure lurk around every corner, and
sudden twists and turns make this a classic nail-biting romantic thriller.
RATNAVALI
King Udayana was in a dilemma: he had won the love of the
beautiful Ratnavali, but how could he break the heart
of his queen, Vasavadatta? Was a chance shipwreck
going to wreck the peace and happiness of his home as well? Sagacious
statesmen, loyal friends and even talking birds help in a romance which reveals
all the subtleties of palace life so familiar to that master playwright, the
7th-century poet-king Harsha of Kanauj.