About the Book
"Maha-Nataka: A Dramatic History of King Rama," translated by Maha-Raja Kali-Krishna Bahadur, is a detailed rendition of the epic drama depicting the life and reign of King Rama, a revered figure in Hindu mythology. The translation captures the grandeur and complexity of the original text, focusing on key events and characters from Rama's story. The work provides insights into ancient Indian dramatic literature and the cultural significance of Rama's narrative, offering a rich portrayal of Hindu epic traditions.
About the Author
Maha-Raja Kali-Krishna Bahadur (1808-1879) was a notable Indian scholar and translator known for his work on classical Indian literature. His translation of "Maha-Nataka: A Dramatic History of King Rama" provides an accessible rendition of the epic, highlighting his contributions to preserving and interpreting Hindu literary traditions.
Preface
Of the invention and antiquity of the "ΜΛΗΣ-NATAKA," the late Sir William Jones says in his preface to the "Sakuntala-Nataka," that "the first Sanskrit verse ever heard by mortals was pronounced in a burst of resentment by the great VALMIC, who flourished in the silver age of the world, and was author of an epic poem on the wars of his cotempo-rary, RAMA, a king of Ayodhya; so that no drama in verse could have been represented before his time, and the Indians have a wild story, that the first re-gular play, on the same subject with Ramayana, was composed by HANÚMUT OF PAVAN, who commanded an army of Satyrs or Mountaineers in Rúma's expedition against Lanká: they add, that he engraved it on a smooth rock, which, being dissatisfied with his composition, he hurled into the sea; and that, many years after, a learned prince ordered expert divers to take impressions of the poem on wax, by which means the drama was in great measure restored. By whomsoever or in whatever age this species of entertainment was invented, it is very certain, that it was carried to great perfection in its kind, when VICRAMADITYA, Who reigned in the first century be-fore CHRIST, gave encouragement to poets, philologers, and mathematicians.
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