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Suleiman Charitra
A marvelous retelling of a biblical tale through Sanskrit eyes
A Hindu poet, Kalyana Malla, renders in classical Sanskrit a biblical story for his Muslim patron, a Lodhi prince of the sixteenth century, in this unusual intermingling of cultural traditions. The sensual unfolding of David and Bathsheba's love story-the bathing scene, David's infatuation, his pursuit of Bathsheba and their eventual union-is strikingly portrayed in the language of the gods through its shringara rasa or the erotic mode, by a writer better known for the sex manual Ananga Ranga.
This marvellous, first-ever English translation of Suleiman Charitra - a delightful Sanskrit rendering of Hebraic and Arabic tales-elegantly brings together the east and the west.
A Hindu poet, Kalyana Malla, renders in classical Sanskrit a biblical story for his Muslim patron, a Lodhi prince of the sixteenth century, in this unusual intermingling of cultural traditions. The sensual unfolding of David and Bathsheba's love story-the bathing scene, David's infatuation, his pursuit of Bathsheba and their eventual union-is strikingly portrayed in the language of the gods through its shringara rasa or the erotic mode, by a writer better known for the sex manual Ananga Ranga.
This marvellous, first-ever English translation of Suleiman Charitra - a delightful Sanskrit rendering of Hebraic and Arabic tales-elegantly brings together the east and the west.
144 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
July 16, 2018
Any retelling of any Biblical story/character/event interests me. So it was no surprise that when I chanced upon this book, I immediately bought it.
This is a retelling of the Biblical story - David and Bathsheba - in Sanskrit.
From the introduction: "Here the story is recast in classical Sanskrit, along with that language's traditional imagery and indigenous additions, by an established writer at the north Indian court of a Lodhi prince of Afghan origin."
The main source obviously had been the Arabic lives of prophets. The Biblical names are rendered from the Islamic tradition (eg: Dawood for David and Suleiman for Solomon).
The two indigenous additions:
1) The relatively lengthy erotic aspect added to the narration. This was part of Sanskrit poetry (Shringara) in the 16th century, the time when this was written.
2) The discussion on eternal nature of soul, the transience of human body, and the ultimate aim of the atman (the self) is presented from the Indian philosophical perspective.
Did I read it in Sanskrit?
No. I do not know Sanskrit. I read it in its English translation.
Finally: A light read that is entertaining.
This is a retelling of the Biblical story - David and Bathsheba - in Sanskrit.
From the introduction: "Here the story is recast in classical Sanskrit, along with that language's traditional imagery and indigenous additions, by an established writer at the north Indian court of a Lodhi prince of Afghan origin."
The main source obviously had been the Arabic lives of prophets. The Biblical names are rendered from the Islamic tradition (eg: Dawood for David and Suleiman for Solomon).
The two indigenous additions:
1) The relatively lengthy erotic aspect added to the narration. This was part of Sanskrit poetry (Shringara) in the 16th century, the time when this was written.
2) The discussion on eternal nature of soul, the transience of human body, and the ultimate aim of the atman (the self) is presented from the Indian philosophical perspective.
Did I read it in Sanskrit?
No. I do not know Sanskrit. I read it in its English translation.
Finally: A light read that is entertaining.
Read
February 22, 2021****Read for Forms of Lit class****
July 26, 2024
An interesting retelling
December 21, 2020
A very intriguing book. A books in Sanskrit based on stories from the Bible (David and Bathsheba), Koran and the Arabian nights.
The author has taken the stories as is and has blended in Indianess into the whole narrative.
A very different book to read.
The author has taken the stories as is and has blended in Indianess into the whole narrative.
A very different book to read.
Read
July 2, 2024c. 1489-1526 (most likely 16th?) under the patronage of a Muslim ruler, Lad Khan, the Lodi ruler of Ayodhya, the son of King Ahmad. Lad Khan and his family were kinsmen of the Lodis. They, it appears, were governors during the rule of Sikandar Lodi (1489 -1517) and continued under Ibrahim Lodi (1517 - 1526).
Memory of the world
Memory of the world
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews