Shakuntala: Kalidasa

by Arthur W. Ryder

Taken as a whole, Ryder's work as a translator is probably the finest ever accomplished by an American. It is also probably the finest body of translation from the Sanskrit ever accomplished by one man, if translation be regarded as a branch of literary art, not merely as a faithful rendering of the meaning of the original text.

Genres: Plays

242 pages, Paperback

Published October 21, 2014

About the author

Arthur William Ryder was a professor of Sanskrit at the University of California, Berkeley. He translated a number of Sanskrit works into English, including the Panchatantra and the Bhagavad Gita. He was a member of the American Oriental Society and the American Philological Association. In the words of G. R. Noyes:

Taken as a whole, Ryder's work as a translator is probably the finest ever accomplished by an American. It is also probably the finest body of translation from the Sanskrit ever accomplished by one man, if translation be regarded as a branch of literary art, not merely as a faithful rendering of the meaning of the original text.

Reviews

[nevaeh galluccio · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was actually really enjoyable, which I never expect from old plays since my reading comprehension is so bad. The translation is really well done and I feel like I understood the original authorial intent from all those years ago. The rhasas are pretty clear throughout each scene and act and I love peeking into the culture of the time. It feels very modern for an old play and I really enjoyed it. I did somehow miss Durvasas cursing Shakuntala which was really confusing on first read.

[Eraneh Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had already come across the story of Shakuntala and Dushyanta in the Mahabharata, along with their son Bharata, after whom our country is named. But reading this play was an entirely different and enthralling experience. I found myself reciting the dialogues aloud, even adding gestures, which took me back to my school days when I acted in plays. The narrative is layered and profound, weaving together the characters’ pasts and offering clear reasons for every turn of events, leaving no question in the reader’s mind unanswered. The character development is beautifully done, and it is easy to see why this play has become one of the most translated works in the world.

[Kirti · Rating 5 out of 5]

the story is well known, originally written in Sanskrit centuries back by Kalidas. the most beautiful aspect of this reading journey was how magnificently Ryder has translated this. I thoroughly enjoyed the process.

[Valerie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'll be surprised if I retain any of this, but I mostly enjoyed it.

[Aditi · Rating 4 out of 5]

A classic.