Artists
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Here is some fuel to burn on the altar of your imagination. We would like you to be inspired by all this, as it is only by artists responding creatively to Sanskrit poetry that it will enter the bloodstream of our culture. We would like our readers to interact with the texts in whatever medium best suits them. Here then is a page to start from. Have a look around, choose a poem or story and use it as a point of inspiration for your art, music, poetry, film or whatever media you choose. We would love to see the results. Do contact us if you have any questions. To win Shiva’s love, Párvati lives outdoors come rain or shine:
Excessively heated by twofold fire:
by the sun in the sky and by fires fed by fuel, at the end of the hot season drenched with fresh showers she along with the earth gave off rising steam. Pausing a moment on her eyelashes, beating against her lower lip, breaking up in the fall on to the protrusion of her breasts, slithering into the three folds of skin below, the first drops of water eventually reached her navel.
I said, ‘I’m worried because I don’t know how to interact
with a young woman. You must quickly turn me into a
man-about-town!’
He replied, ‘The saying that horses are tamed in the hour
of battle has today proved to be true! One cannot become
a man-about-town by instruction. It’s like spiritual
liberation-mastered through repeated practice. But I’ll tell
you in brief: copy whatever her ladyship does.’
He was able to enter the palace among the throng of people, and, gaining the women’s apartments, the criminal violated the women. In his turn, the King found that they lacked sexual desire. Suspecting an intrusion, he interrogated the chamberlain, who said that he had seen no one at all. Then plumes of smoke were raised from wheat flour scattered over the ground. Having rubbed away the lampblack from his eyes, Padma·ratha became visible and was captured.
Then the wanderer Makándika approached the Lord and said: ‘May the Lord behold my virtuous daughter, Anúpama, a lovely young woman beautifully adorned. Since I give this amorous girl to you, live with her like a true sage, like the moon in the sky with Róhini.’ The Lord reflected, ‘If I speak conciliatory words to Anúpama, what will happen is that she will go to her death sweating with passion. Therefore I shall speak repellent words to her.’
Still when alone I recollect the smile
Which tasted nectar-sweet upon her lip; I see the fastenings of her braided hair Slip from their place, and see the garlands slip; The wandering gaze, the string of pearls which rests Kissing a pair of full uplifted breasts. —“The Love Thief” Slender lady, I came out with you to gather fruit. I got a pain in my head and fell asleep in your lap. Then I saw a terrible darkness and a mighty person. If you know, then tell me–was it my dream? Or was what I saw real? So speaks Sátyavat, newly rescued from the god of death by Sávitri, his faithful wife, at the heart of one of the best-loved stories in the literature of India.
Boy: Look, here are buxom maids ready to serve the food and catching the eyes of the monks with their flirtatious glances. And there some kind of drink is being served in a spotless jar.
Graduate: There is wine here, masquerading as ‘fruit juice,’ and meat allegedly fit for vegetarians. Oh, how painful this asceticism is!
Who exemplifies proper conduct and is benevolent to all creatures? Who is learned, capable, and a pleasure to behold? Who is self-controlled, having subdued his anger? Who is both judicious and free from envy? Who, when his fury is aroused in battle, is feared even by the gods? This is what I want to hear, for my desire to know is very strong. Great seer, you must know of such a man.
Sita was deeply distraught, and out of love and indignation she began to revile broad-chested Rághava. ‘What could my father Váideha, the lord of Míthila, have had in mind when he took you for a son-in-law, Rama, a woman with the body of a man? ... Like a procurer, Rama, you are willing of your own accord to hand me over to others-your wife, who came to you a virgin and who has been a good woman all the long while she has lived with you. ... As I follow behind you I shall no more tire on the path than on our pleasure beds. ... To be with you is heaven, to be without you hell. Knowing how deep my love is, Rama, you must take me when you go.’
Buffoon: (acting fatigue, sighing) I’ve had it! I’m sick of being a side-kick to this hunt-mad king... (Laughs with malice) And now, a pimple crowns the boil. Just yesterday, as I lagged behind, his majesty, chasing some antelope or other, entered a hermitage and was, by my ill fate, shown some ascetic’s daughter called Shakúntala.
When asked about the length of life, the astrologer will predict longevity. Those who survive will be in awe of him. Who will the dead complain to?
I then made a drawing in my likeness, saying:
‘Take this to her. Once she has seen and studied it, she is bound to ask: “Can there exist a man who looks like this?” Respond to her: “What if there were?” Then bring me her answer.’ |
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