How To Love In Sanskrit: An Ancient Guide On Love For Modern Readers

How to Love in Sanskrit explores the profound theme of love through the lens of Sanskrit poetry spanning over 3,000 years. It is a unique compilation featuring verses and prose pieces by celebrated writers, including Kalidasa and Banabhatta, offering readers a glimpse into the diverse perspectives on love in ancient Sanskrit literature.

The editors/translators, Anusha Rao and Suhas Mahesh, bring their expertise in Sanskrit and Prakrit to brilliantly translate this ancient guide to love for modern readers.

Here's an excerpt extracted with permission:

5. Dimples

After creating her

God must have

gazed at his work admiringly

holding her face in his hands

thumb on each cheek.

That’s how she got

her two perfect dimples.

Deeds of the Nishadha King, Shriharsha, 1100 ce, Kanyakubja?

11.  Miss Universe

The long bindi

painted on her forehead

pointing straight up to heaven

is the Love God’s arrow

that he mounts

on the arched bow of her brows.

Earth has been won already.

Heaven must be next.

What Navasahasanka Did, Padmagupta, 1000 ce, Malwa

 51. Sui generis

In all the world

filled as it is with lovely women

this much may be said of her:

only her right half

is a match for her left.

Seven Hundred Gahas, 100 ce, Deccan

68. Perfect as she is

You may see her aplenty

but each time

she dazzles anew.

She has no need for a smile:

her radiance

smiles for her.

She has no need for a drink:

her limbs sway gracefully

all the same.

She has no need for words:

her eyes

do a fine job already.

Mahabharata, Vyas

69. Words fall short

Her face is like

the moon, yes.

And yes, her lips

are heaven’s ambrosia.

But

pulling her close

by the hair

for a kiss

all fire and frenzy –

any figures of speech for that?

Seven Hundred Gahas, 100 ce?, Deccan