Reviews
By Nalinaksha Dutt, Chintaharan Chakravarti
Summary
The Reviews section presents critical notices of three recent publications. The first review examines E.M. Hare’s translation ‘Woven Cadences of Early Buddhists’, which renders Pali gathas into English verse. The reviewer commends Hare’s poetic sensibility and the introduction that situates the hymns within early Buddhist history but notes occasional liberties taken with literal meaning. The second review discusses Pandit K.B. Pathak’s edition of the ‘Jagadvijayacchandas’ of Kavindracarya. This Sanskrit work on prosody receives praise for its thorough editing, scholarly preface and explanatory notes, though the reviewer suggests that a glossary would aid readers. The third notice pertains to ‘Mudrarakshasapūrvasaṁkathānaka’, a play that dramatizes the political intrigues preceding the events of the classical Sanskrit drama ‘Mudrarakshasa’. The reviewer highlights the play’s imaginative reconstruction of Chanakya’s strategies and commends the editor’s effort in making the text available. Collectively, the reviews reflect the journal’s engagement with both Buddhist and Sanskrit literary traditions and provide constructive feedback to authors and publishers. They underscore the importance of accurate translation, critical apparatus and accessibility for advancing Indological studies.
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Conclusion
The reviews commend recent translations and editions while pointing out areas for improvement. They emphasise fidelity to source texts and the need for thorough scholarly apparatus, contributing to higher standards in the publication of India’s literary heritage.