Birth of Kumára
By Kálidása, translated by David Smith
The greatest long poem in classical Sanskrit, by the greatest poet of the language, Kali•dasa’s The Birth of Kumára is not exactly a love story but a paradigm of inevitable union between male and female, played out on the immense scale of supreme divinity. In this court epic, the events are described leading up to but not including the birth of Kumára, the war god destined to defeat the demon Táraka.

The Emperor of the Sorcerers Volume One
By Budhasvámin, edited and translated by Sir James Mallinson
Budha•svamin’s The Emperor of the Sorcerers is a racy telling of the celebrated lost Indian narrative cycle The Long Story, framed by Nara•váhana•datta’s magical adventures on his quest to become Emperor of the Sorcerers. It is indeed a great story, as its Sanskrit title declares. Epic in scope and scale, it has everything that a great story should: adventure, romance, suspense, intrigue, tragedy, and comedy.

The Emperor of the Sorcerers Volume Two
By Budhasvámin, translated by Sir James Mallinson
Volume Two continues this fast-paced tale of mystery and sorcery up to canto 28. Nara•váhana•datta’s epic quest to become the human Emperor of the Sorcerers leads him and his companions to win yet more wives. Unfortunately, the surviving manuscripts of the text break off while he is in pursuit of his sixth wife. The primary narrative is punctuated by diverting subplots.

The Epitome of Queen Lílávatí Volume One
By Jinaratna, edited and translated by R.C.C. Fynes
Written in 1297 CE by the Jain poet-monk Jina•ratna, The Epitome of Queen Lilávati is undeservedly almost unknown outside India. In the stories, embodied souls undergo all too human adventures in a succession of lives, as they advance to final release. The book abounds in memorable incidents and characters, related to Queen Lilávati and her husband, King Simha, by the teacher-monk Sámara•sena.

Epitome of Queen Lílávatí Volume Two
By Jinaratna, translated by R.C.C. Fynes
The second volume of Jina•ratna’s thirteenth-century The Epitome of Queen Lilávati completes his story. Embodied souls undergo all too human adventures in a succession of lives, as they advance to final release. The primary purpose of Jain narrative literature was to edify lay people through amusement; consequently the stories are racy, and in some cases the moralizing element is rather tenuous.