Erotic Love Poems from India: A Translation of the Amarushataka"A single stanza of the poet Amaru," declared a ninth-century poetry critic, "may provide the taste of love equal to what's found in whole volumes." Graceful and yet remarkably playful, intensely passionate, and at times hinting of divine transcendence, the poems translated here offer poignant glimpses into the many faces of erotic love. This collection, known in Sanskrit as the Amarushataka ("One Hundred Poems of Amaru"), was compiled in the eighth century and remains to this day one of India's finest collections of love poetry. It has never been fully translated into English poetry before. Legend connects the poetry's authorship to King Amaru of Kashmir, while present-day scholars generally consider it an anthology of the verses of many poets. Poet and translator Andrew Schelling's artful translations render the ancient verses with freshness and immediacy. Schelling's compelling introduction and afterword offer musings on the colorful background and history of the original Sanskrit text. |
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Amaru's body Amaru's court Amarushataka amrita Ancient India Andrew Schelling anger anthologies arts Asia’s Asian bitterness Bodiless breasts British Library brow CAMISOLE century chatter cheeks classical India clutched collection commentary compiled DANIEL H. H. dear dred Poems ecstasies Edited Erotic Poems etry eyes face feet friends George Harrison girlfriends glance goddess Mridani gods hair heart household parrot human human sexual hundred hundred days Indian poetry INGALLS Kama Kashmiri king katakamukha pose king’s kisses known lady lamp laugh leaf-soft look lotus lovemaking lover manuscript moist monsoon mouth Mumbai night Parvati passion petals Poems from Ancient poet Amaru poet's words command quick religion rubbed rushataka sandalwood Sanskrit poetry Savage Grammar scholars sexual Shambhala Shankara shataka Shiva skirt sleep smile South Asia stanzas tears throat tiger's play tion traditions translated tremble Tripura turning seasons University Press Upanishad Vemabhupala venery Vidy¯akara vivid warlord Wild Form Witter Bynner