much

ado
about
religion
bhatta
jaynta
dezso
Edited & translated by
CSABA DEZSO
CLAY SANSKRIT LIBRARY
much ado
about religion
by bhatta jaynta
Here is a new Clay Sanskrit Library
edition and translation of Bhatta Jayntas
Much Ado About Religion.
The play satirizes various religions in
Kashmir and their place in the politics
of King Shnkaravarman (883902 CE).
Jayntas strategy is to take a characteristic
figure of the target religion and unmask
him as a fraud. By turning his victims
own religious doctrines against him,
Jaynta makes a laughingstock of both
the philosophy and its adherents.
The leading character, Sankrshana, is
a young and dynamic orthodox graduate
of Vedic studies, whose career starts as
a glorious campaign against the heretic
Buddhists, Jains and other antisocial
sects. By the end of the play he realizes
that the interests of the monarch do not
encourage such inquisitional rigor, and
the story ends in a great festival of
tolerance and compromise.
jjc
WWW.CLAYSANSKRITLIBRARY.COM
Unique in Sanskrit literature, Bhatta Jayntas play,
Much Ado About Religion, is a curious mixture of
fiction and history, of scathing satire and intriguing
philosophical argumentation.
Csaba Dezso is Assistant Lecturer in
Sanskrit in the Department of Indo-
European Linguistics at Etvs Lornd
University, Budapest.
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English translation, gives an international
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c
l
a
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a
n
s
k
ri
t

l
i
b
r
a
r
y

Copyright c :cc, by the CSL.

All rights reserved.
First Edition :cc,
The Clay Sanskrit Library is co-published by
New York University Press
and the JJC Foundation.
Further information about this volume
and the rest of the Clay Sanskrit Library
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ISBN c-:;-:,;,-:
Artwork by Robert Beer.
Cover design by Isabelle Onians.
Layout & typesetting by Somadeva Vasudeva.
Printed in Great Britain by St Edmundsbury Press Ltd,
Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, on acid-free paper.
Bound by Hunter & Foulis Ltd, Edinburgh, Scotland.
Much Ado
About
Religion
by Bhat
.
t
.
a Jayanta
EDITED AND TRANSLATED BY
CSABA DEZS O
NEW YORK UNIVERSITY PRESS
JJC FOUNDATION
:cc,
Cia\ Saxsxiir Liniai\

Acaxao
.
axnaia.
Eoirio n\ Csaba Dezs o (csl,.:) Viisiox :.,
:, Jax :cc, :, i.x.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Jayanta Bhat
.
t
.
a, . ,c,:c.

Agamad
.
ambara. English
Much ado about religion / by Jayanta Bhatta ;
edited and translated by Csaba Dezs o.
p. cm. (The Clay Sanskrit library)
Translated from Sanskrit.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN c-:;-:,;,-: (cloth)
:. Sanskrit drama. :. Ny ayaDrama.
I. Dezs o, Csaba. II. Title. III. Series.
II. Title. III. Series.
PK,;,.J,;:A;:, :cc,
,:.::dc:: :ccc:o:o,
Contents
Sanskrit alphabetical order ;
CSL conventions ;
MUCH ADO ABOUT RELIGION :,
Introduction :,
Dramatis Person :;
Prologue: Disiiiusiox ,c
Prelude to Act One: Tui Buoouas Tiacuixc c
Act One: Tui Buoouisrs Diiiario ,:
Prelude to Act Two: Lusriui Ascirics
Act Two: Tui Fiasr oi Disiassiox ,
Prelude to Act Three: Paxic axoxc rui Fiaiiiss ::
Act Three: Riiiciox Dixiio axo Diiixoio :c
Prelude to Act Four: Oiruooox Ixiosruiis :,:
Act Four: Quaiiiiio Toiiiaxci :c:
Paraphrase of Prakrit (Ch ay a) :,,
Notes :;:
Bibliography :,o
Index ,c,
A sandhi grid is printed on the inside of the back cover ,c,
Cia\ Saxsxiir Liniai\

Acaxao
.
axnaia.
Eoirio n\ Csaba Dezs o (csl,.:) Viisiox :.,
:, Jax :cc, :, i.x.
Prelude to Act Two:
Lustful Ascetics
Cia\ Saxsxiir Liniai\

Acaxao
.
axnaia.
Eoirio n\ Csaba Dezs o (csl,.:) Viisiox :.,
:, Jax :cc, :, i.x.
xucu aoo anour iiiiciox
Tatah
.
pravisati cir
.
au
.
.
cir
.
au
.
:

N
.
a pivyadi syal a sul a
n
.
a a d asi samam
.
lamadi,
sulaham
.
ca n
.
a mam
.
saAbhoyan
.
am
.
visame bamhan
.
aAv asae ido.

T a kim
.
kaladi? n
.
asti yyeva n
.
iyaAbhas
.
t
.
ake palihalia appan
.
o
gabbhaAd as an
.
a gad. an
.
am
.
pi t arisam
.
bhas
.
t
.
ake aves
.
kadi
yesu n
.
a khajjadi n
.
a pijyadi. jado ajya an
.
atte bhas
.
t
.
ake-
n
.
a hage: ale kajjala a, gasca pekkha khavan
.
ayaA vasade
kim
.
Jin
.
aAras
.
kidaAbhikkh u asti n
.
a va tti. n
.
a a j an
.
ami ka-
him
.
s a khavan
.
aaAvasad.

(parikramya vthm avalokayan

savitarkam)

esu vistin
.
n
.
aAlum
.
cidaAlomaAkim
.
s aluAvisalaAsa-
valid a ede pam
.
suAkan
.
a las
.
kam
.
ti. t a esu yyeva lus
.
kaAga-
han
.
e khavan
.
aaAvasade hodavvam
.
.

(kati cit pad ani gatv

agrato vilokya sahars
.
am)

iam
.
yyeva s a khavan
.
aaA vasa-
d, jado esu n
.
ilam
.
talaAlad aApam
.
jalAam
.
dhay ale lus
.
kaAm u-
le kuvidam
.
khavan
.
iam
.
pas adem
.
te ese khavan
.
ae dsadi.

(ks
.
an
.
am
.
nir upya)

adiA kovan
.
a khu es a dut
.
t
.
h a khavan
.
i a
y a calan
.
aApad
.
idam
.
pi edam
.
khavan
.
ayaAyu an
.
am
.
palihalia
d ulam
.
gad a. ese vi tavass palusaAvaan
.
e khavan
.
ae dsadi.

Tatah
.
pravisati picchik aBhastah
.
xs
.
aiax
.
axau
.
. :.,

iiiiuoi ro acr rwo: iusriui ascirics

Then enters the oocsnoo\.*
oocsnoo\: *
One cannot drink chilled booze, nor make love to
the servant girls, nor is it easy to get a meat dish,
in this comfortless brahmin household.
So what to do? A born slave has no recourse if he turns his
back on his own masters, thats for sure. Even the errands
my master thinks upare suchthat one cannot eat or drink
while running them. For just nowmy master has ordered
me: Hey, Sooty, go and see if the monk Jinar akshita
is in the abode of the Jain mendicants or not. And Ive
no idea where that abode of the Jain mendicants can
be. (He walks about, looks at the road, and muses:) These
specks of dust here seem to be speckled by scattered tufts
of plucked-out, awn-like hair.* So the abode of the Jain
mendicants must be right here in this forest. (He takes a
few steps, looks ahead and says joyfully:) This must be the
abode of the Jain mendicants, since here, under a tree, in
the darkness of the dense net of vines, a monk seems to
be appeasing an angry nun. (He looks for a second.) This
harpy nun must be furious indeed: shes shaken o the
young mendicant and gone away, even though he threw
himself at her feet. And the poor monk seems to have a
grim visage.
Then enters a Jain xixoicaxr, holding a broom made of :.,
peacock tail feathers.
,
Cia\ Saxsxiir Liniai\

Acaxao
.
axnaia.
Eoirio n\ Csaba Dezs o (csl,.:) Viisiox :.,
:, Jax :cc, :, i.x.
xucu aoo anour iiiiciox
xs
.
aiax
.
axau
.
: (s asram)

Haddh, paraAloe dur as ae pad

.
hamam
.
khavan
.
attan
.
am
.
mae gahiam
.
. khalidassa tattha in
.
him
.
di-
t
.
t
.
hA adit
.
t
.
h a khu me n
.
at
.
t
.
h a, jado es a vi dut
.
t
.
h a t avas ca-
lan
.
aA pad
.
idassa vi me n
.
a pasdadi.

(aks
.
in
.
pramr
.
jya)

a
dut
.
t
.
h a bam
.
dha, gaccha tuvam
.
! kim
.
tae visarisam
.
kam
.
vi khavan
.
iam
.
n
.
a p avissam
.
?

cir
.
au
.
: (vicintya)

J ava ese khavan
.
ae mam
.
n
.
a pekkhadi t ava
hage khavan
.
i aA vesam
.
kaduya edam
.
khavan
.
aam
.
uvaha-
sissam
.
.

( atm anam
.
nir upya)

lam
.
baAkan
.
n
.
e khu hage. n
.
a
an
.
an
.
e massuAlom a me ubbhin
.
n
.
a. n
.
a ya khavan
.
iy an
.
a ve-
n
.
iAbam
.
dhe sse sam
.
bh avyadi. t a suale me khavan
.
i aAvese.

(tath a karoti. nir upya)

picchi aA mettaAsun
.
n
.
e sam
.
padam
.
me khavan
.
i aAl ue vat
.
t
.
adi.

(agrato valokya sahars

.
am)

s ahu!
khavan
.
i ae sam
.
dh alidaApaliccaam
.
picchiam
.
gen
.
hia uva-
sappissam
.
.

(tath a kr
.
tv a)

ayya, pan
.
am ami. palissam
.
ta
mhi sam
.
padam
.
. t a acakkhasu mam
.
ajja kahim
.
bhas
.
t
.
ake
Jin
.
aArakkhidaAbhikkh u vat
.
t
.
adi.

xs
.
aia: (s asv asam atmaBgatam)

N
.
a esa attaAparam
.
muho vva
me devvo lakkhyadi. an
.
n
.
a khu es a tarun
.
aAkhavan
.
i a uva-
n
.
ad a.

(prak asam)

a b alaA tavassin
.
i, kim
.
tujjha Jin
.
aA ra-
kkhidaA bhikkhun
.
a? parissam
.
t a khu dsasi. t a iha yyeva
n
.
ijjan
.
e sisiraAlad aAgahan
.
e uvavisia vsama muhuttaam
.
.

cir
.
au
.
:

Kudo me n
.
iccaA dukkhid ae mam
.
daA bhagg ae vs a-
me?

o
iiiiuoi ro acr rwo: iusriui ascirics
xixoicaxr: (weeping) Poor me! Because of the vain hope
of a better afterlife, rst I became a Jain monk. I have
deviated from that, and now both the present and the
future* have come to nothing for me, for this harpy nun,
too, is not appeased even if I throw myself at her feet.
(He wipes his eyes.) Hey, you harpy bitch, get you gone!
Cant I nd another nun who is not like you?
oocsnoo\: (pondering) Before this monk notices me Ill
dress up as a Jain nun, and make fun of him. (He looks
at himself.) To be sure, I have long ears, there are no
beginnings of a beard on my face, and no one would
expect a Jain nun to wear a ponytail on her head. So I
can easily assume the appearance of a Jain nun. (He does
so and looks about.) Now all I need is a broom of peacock
feathers to look like a Jain nun. (Looking ahead, he says
joyfully:) Splendid! Ill take the nuns broom that she had
been holding and then left behind,* and go closer. (He
does so.) Sir, I bow to you. I am very tired now, so please
tell me, where is the reverend monk Jinar akshita now?
xixoicaxr: (cheering up, to himself ) It seems my luck will
not turn its back on me now. Here we have another
young nun showing up. (openly) O my mendicant girl,
what business do you have with the monk Jinar akshita?
You look very tired indeed. So sit down right here in this
lonely, cool thicket of vines, and rest for a spell.
oocsnoo\: Ive always been unhappy and Im ill-fated.
How could I have a rest?
;
Cia\ Saxsxiir Liniai\

Acaxao
.
axnaia.
Eoirio n\ Csaba Dezs o (csl,.:) Viisiox :.,
:, Jax :cc, :, i.x.
xucu aoo anour iiiiciox
xs
.
aia: (saBsneham)

Kim
.
imassim
.
b alaAbh ave vi te dukkhaA :.:c
k aran
.
am
.
?

cir
.
au
.
: (nih
.
svasya)

Ayya, cit
.
t
.
hadu ese maha d
.
ad
.
d
.
haA vu-
ttam
.
te. Jin
.
aA rakkhidaA bhikkhuA pa uttim
.
me acakkhadu
bhavam
.
.

xs
.
aia:

B alie, eso khu Jin
.
aArakkhidaAbhikkh u abbham
.
tare
attaA siss an
.
a majjhe vakkh an
.
aam
.
karem
.
to n
.
iaggohaA ru-
kkhaA m ule cit
.
t
.
hadi. tuvam
.
pun
.
a khan
.
am
.
uvavisia va-
n
.
n
.
ehi d ava attan
.
o n
.
ivveaAk aran
.
am
.
.

cir
.
au
.
: (upavisya nih
.
svasya)

Ayya, kim
.
esu sam
.
s alaAhad ae
lajj aAn
.
ih an
.
e van
.
n
.
yadi?

(roditi.)
xs
.
aia: (aks
.
in
.
cet
.
asy otpum
.
sayan)

B alie, van
.
n
.
ehi. hiaaAni-
vviseso khu eso jan
.
o b ali ae.

cir
.
au
.
:

B alaAkum alika yyeva pavvajida mhi mam
.
daAbh an
.
.

:.:,
xs
.
aia:

Tado un
.
a?

cir
.
au
.
:

Tado sAsiA ubbhijyam
.
taA vilalaA juvvan
.
aA lakkhan
.
ae
an
.
iccham
.
te yyeva me asikkhidaAmaan
.
aAlas ae ken
.
a vi ta-
lun
.
aAkhavan
.
aen
.
a slaAkham
.
d
.
an
.
a kad a.

xs
.
aia: (sahars
.
am atmaB gatam)

AmaaA n
.
a yyeva me uva-
n
.
ad a.

(prak asam)

b alie, risa yyeva sam
.
s araAt
.
t
.
hid. tado
un
.
a?

cir
.
au
.
:

Ayya, tado k alAam
.
tale san
.
iam
.
san
.
iam
.
mun
.
iaAma-
an
.
aAlasam
.
mam
.
palihalia se khavan
.
ae an
.
n
.
assim
.
d
.
ad
.
d
.
haA
mut
.
t
.
he vud
.
d
.
haAkhavan
.
i ae pasatte.

iiiiuoi ro acr rwo: iusriui ascirics

xixoicaxr: (with affection) You are just a child, but you :.:c
already have a reason to be unhappy?
oocsnoo\: (with a sigh) Sir, let us not waste our breath for
my execrable story. Please tell me the whereabouts of the
monk Jinar akshita.
xixoicaxr: Little girl, this monk Jinar akshita is inside,
delivering a lecture to his disciples, under the nyagrod-
ha-tree. But sit down for a second and tell me now the
cause of your disillusion.
oocsnoo\: (sits down and sighs) Sir, what point is there in
relating now the piled-up shame of a girl whom life has
crushed? (He cries.)
xixoicaxr: (wiping the oocsnoo\s eyes) Tell me, my mop-
pet. I am no dierent from your heart, sweetie.
oocsnoo\: Ill-fated that I am, I turned a recluse when I
:.:,
was just a little girl.
xixoicaxr: And then?
oocsnoo\: Then, as the delicate signs of my youth were
becoming slightly visible, but I was still not familiar
with the savor of passion, some young monk oended
my decency, entirely against my will.
xixoicaxr: (joyfully to himself ) Ive chanced upon a river
of nectar! (openly) Cest la vie, sweetie. And then?
oocsnoo\: Sir, then later on, as I had gradually become
conversant with the savor of passion, that monk dumped
me and got stuck on another rm-sted* old nun.
,
Cia\ Saxsxiir Liniai\

Acaxao
.
axnaia.
Eoirio n\ Csaba Dezs o (csl,.:) Viisiox :.,
:, Jax :cc, :, i.x.
xucu aoo anour iiiiciox
xs
.
aia:

Ten
.
a hi sam
.
muh ado so. pam
.
gulaA am
.
dhaA n
.
aam
.
:.:c
karemha.

Iti cir
.
ax
.
kan
.
t
.
he gr
.
htv a bal ac cumbati. cir
.
au
.
kr
.
takaBlajjam
adhoBmukham aste.
xs
.
aia:

B alie, kim
.
mam
.
n
.
a pekkhasi?

cir
.
au
.
:

Kaham
.
n
.
u pekkhissam
.
? tae vi mam
.
palihalia an
.
n
.
a-
do gam
.
tavvam
.
.

xs
.
aia:

B alie, m a evam
.
bhan
.
a. d asaAvattan
.
iam
.
te karassam
.
.

(cet
.
asya vaks
.
asi hastam
.
niks
.
ipya)

kim
.
ajja vi te than
.
a a n
.
a
ubbhin
.
n
.
a?

cir
.
au
.
: (saBlajjam)

Kim
.
hadA as a kalissam
.
?

:.:,
xs
.
aia: (n abhiBm ule cet
.
asya hastam
.
nivesya purus
.
aBlaks
.
an
.
am
asy opalaks
.
ya, saBvilaks
.
am
.
saBkopam
.
ca)

Haddh hadA asa,
dad
.
ham
.
tae khalAkado mhi.

(prahartum icchati.)
cir
.
au
.
:

Ale le t avasaAk amu a, jadi kim
.
pi acas
.
kasi t a Jin
.
aAra-
kkhidaAbhikkhun
.
o phukkalassam
.
.

xs
.
aia: (ks
.
an
.
am
.
vimr
.
sya cet
.
asya p adayoh
.
patitv a)

N
.
a tae eso
parih aso kassa vi pag asidavvo.

cir
.
au
.
:

Kim
.
me ukkocaam
.
?

xs
.
aia pim
.
chik aBm ul ad uddhr
.
tya kim api dad ati. :.,c
,c
iiiiuoi ro acr rwo: iusriui ascirics
xixoicaxr: . . . * Lets do as the lame and the blind in
:.:c
the proverb.
He puts his arms around the oocsnoo\s neck and kisses him
forcibly. The oocsnoo\ feigns bashfulness and sits with
eyes downcast.
xixoicaxr: Sweetie, why dont you look at me?
oocsnoo\: How could I look? You too will dump me and
go to another.
xixoicaxr: Sweetie, dont say such thing. I shall be your
slave! (He puts his hand on the oocsnoo\s chest.) Your
titties havent even come out yet?
oocsnoo\: (bashfully) Poor me, what should I do? :.:,
The xixoicaxr slides down his hand under the navel of the
oocsnoo\, discovers his genitals, and says with shame and
anger: Dammit, you wretch, youve taken me in badly!
(He is about to slap the oocsnoo\.)
oocsnoo\: Hey, you ascetic lecher, if you say anything Ill
squeal on you to the monk Jinar akshita!
xixoicaxr: (reects for a second and throws himself at the
oocsnoo\s feet) You mustnt tell anyone about our little
joke!
oocsnoo\: What about my hush money?
The xixoicaxr pulls something out from the handle of his :.,c
broom of peacock feathers, and gives it to the oocsnoo\.
,:
Cia\ Saxsxiir Liniai\

Acaxao
.
axnaia.
Eoirio n\ Csaba Dezs o (csl,.:) Viisiox :.,
:, Jax :cc, :, i.x.
xucu aoo anour iiiiciox
cir
.
au
.
:

Kade palih ase. p avide kah avan
.
ae. adhigay a bhis
.
-
kun
.
o pa utt. t a sam
.
padam
.
gadua bhas
.
t
.
ake vin
.
n
.
avemi.

(parikramy agrato valokya ca)

ajya dit
.
t
.
hi a vad
.
d
.
hasi! aga-
d a de hiaaAvallah a.

Tatah
.
pravisati yathB arthaBxs
.
aiax
.
ix a. ks
.
apan
.
ik aBves
.
am
.
ci-
r
.
ax
.
nirks
.
ya sers
.
y aBkopam:
xs
.
aiax
.
ix a:

A dut
.
t
.
haA t avasi, edam
.
p arakkam
.
pim
.
chiam
.
gen
.
hia kahim
.
gamadi?

cir
.
au
.
:

Ayye, gen
.
ha edam
.
pim
.
chiyam
.
. hage un
.
a an
.
iccham
.
-
ti yyeva edassim
.
lad aAgahan
.
e edin
.
a khavan
.
aen
.
a khalAka-
d a. n
.
a me dose.

(iti nis
.
kr antah
.
.)
xs
.
aiax
.
ix a: (ks
.
apan
.
akaBnikat
.
am upasr
.
tya)

Are dut
.
t
.
haA k a- :.,,
mua t avasAlam
.
pat
.
a! pim
.
chi a me visumarida tti j ava pad
.
i-
n
.
ivad
.
ia agada mhi t ava edassim
.
am
.
tare khan
.
aAmettaen
.
a
yyeva edassim
.
lad aAgahan
.
e <an
.
n
.
a khavan
.
i a a>lim
.
gid a. t a
sam
.
padam
.
an
.
uhavasu attan
.
o vin
.
aassa phalam
.
.

(iti pim
.
-
chik aBdan
.
d
.
ena praharati.)
xs
.
aia:

M a evam
.
sam
.
bh avedu bhod. ced
.
ao khu eso itthi aA
vesam
.
kadua mam
.
uvahasidum
.
agado. ten
.
a hadA asen
.
a
kovid a bhod. jam
.
saccam
.
, kosam
.
te piv ami.

(iti ks
.
apa-
n
.
ik ay ah
.
p adayoh
.
patati.)
xs
.
aiax
.
ix a:

Kudo de muhe saccam
.
, jassa eso uvasamo?

,:
iiiiuoi ro acr rwo: iusriui ascirics
oocsnoo\: Ive made my jest, Ive got a coin, Ive learned
the whereabouts of the monk. So I go now and report
to my master. (He walks about and looks ahead.) Youve
hit the jackpot today! Your sweetheart has arrived.
Then enters the real xux. She perceives oocsnoo\, disguised
as a Jain nun, and says full of jealousy and anger:
xux: Hey, you ascetic wench, where are you going with
someone elses broom in your hand?
oocsnoo\: Take it, maam. As for me, Ive been deceived
by the mendicant in this thicket of vines, entirely against
my will. Its not my fault. (He exits.)
xux: (goes close to the xixoicaxr) Hey, you wretched :.,,
lecher, who leers after ascetic women! While I was on
my way back, because Id left behind my broom, in the
meantime, in a matter of seconds, you were embracing
<another nun>. So now reap the fruit of your discipline!
(She hits him with the stick of the broom.)
xixoicaxr: Do not think so, milady. Cant you see that
he was a servant who came here disguised as a woman
to make fun of me? That wretch has made you angry.
This is the sober truth, I swear it. (He throws himself at
the xuxs feet.)
xux: How could the truth come from your mouth, when
such is your self-restraint?
,,
Cia\ Saxsxiir Liniai\

Acaxao
.
axnaia.
Eoirio n\ Csaba Dezs o (csl,.:) Viisiox :.,
:, Jax :cc, :, i.x.
xucu aoo anour iiiiciox
xs
.
aia:

An
.
n
.
am
.
pi khed
.
d
.
aam
.
dut
.
t
.
haAced
.
aoesokaredi. t a edu
bhod an
.
n
.
ato gacchamha.

(sasambhramam)

eso khu ba-
mhan
.
o ko vi ido agaccham
.
to dsadi. t a tuvaradu bhod.

Nis
.
kr antau.
,
iiiiuoi ro acr rwo: iusriui ascirics
xixoicaxr: This wretched servant will make yet another
jest, so come, my lady, lets go somewhere else. (with
bewilderment) I see a brahmin coming in our direction,
so hurry up, my lady.
Exeunt ambo.
,,
Cia\ Saxsxiir Liniai\

Acaxao
.
axnaia.
Eoirio n\ Csaba Dezs o (csl,.:) Viisiox :.,
:, Jax :cc, :, i.x.
much
ado
about
religion
bhatta
jaynta
dezso
Edited & translated by
CSABA DEZSO
CLAY SANSKRIT LIBRARY
much ado
about religion
by bhatta jaynta
Here is a new Clay Sanskrit Library
edition and translation of Bhatta Jayntas
Much Ado About Religion.
The play satirizes various religions in
Kashmir and their place in the politics
of King Shnkaravarman (883902 CE).
Jayntas strategy is to take a characteristic
figure of the target religion and unmask
him as a fraud. By turning his victims
own religious doctrines against him,
Jaynta makes a laughingstock of both
the philosophy and its adherents.
The leading character, Sankrshana, is
a young and dynamic orthodox graduate
of Vedic studies, whose career starts as
a glorious campaign against the heretic
Buddhists, Jains and other antisocial
sects. By the end of the play he realizes
that the interests of the monarch do not
encourage such inquisitional rigor, and
the story ends in a great festival of
tolerance and compromise.
jjc
WWW.CLAYSANSKRITLIBRARY.COM
Unique in Sanskrit literature, Bhatta Jayntas play,
Much Ado About Religion, is a curious mixture of
fiction and history, of scathing satire and intriguing
philosophical argumentation.
Csaba Dezso is Assistant Lecturer in
Sanskrit in the Department of Indo-
European Linguistics at Etvs Lornd
University, Budapest.
The Clay Sanskrit Library is a unique
series that, through original text and
English translation, gives an international
readership access to the beauty and variety
of classical Sanskrit literature.
For a full list of titles, a searchable corpus
of CSL texts and translations, and further
information about the series, please visit:
www.claysanskritlibrary.com
NEW YORK UNIVERSITY PRESS
Washington Square
New York, NY 10003
www.nyupress.org
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