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