Kathasaritsagara (the Ocean of Story)

by Somadeva | 1924 | 1,023,469 words | ISBN-13: 9789350501351

This is the English translation of the Kathasaritsagara written by Somadeva around 1070. The principle story line revolves around prince Naravāhanadatta and his quest to become the emperor of the Vidhyādharas (‘celestial beings’). The work is one of the adoptations of the now lost Bṛhatkathā, a great Indian epic tale said to have been composed by ...

Preface to volume 2

WITH the issue of this second volume of the Ocean of Story I would like to take the opportunity of thanking my many subscribers for their kind support. The appreciative and sympathetic manner in which the reviewers have received the first volume of the work has also been most encouraging.

Subscribers will be pleased to hear that great progress is being made with the subsequent volumes. Volume III is now in the press and Volume IV is well in hand.

It remains but to acknowledge the kind help I have received from so many quarters.

To Sir George Grierson is due special thanks for his most interesting and relevant Foreword. I was particularly gratified when Sir George so kindly consented to write this, as I know how pleased Mr Tawney would have been to have seen the name of his old friend connected with the present edition of his magnum opus.

Dr L. D. Barnett has again read through all my proofs, and has not only given me the advantage of his inexhaustible store of Sanskrit knowledge, but has translated afresh those passages which needed revision, owing either to improved readings in the D. text or to omissions made by Mr Tawney himself.

Mr C. Fenton has also been through the proofs from the general point of view, and his microscopic eye has detected many errors which I had passed unnoticed. In addition to which his knowledge of Central American ancient history and mythology has been particularly helpful, especially in portions of the “Poison-damsel” appendix.

To the list of names already given in my Introduction to Volume I, I would add those of Mr H. Balfour, Professor Henri Cordier, Dr M. Gaster, Rev. A. S. Geden, Mr J. D. Gimlette, Lady Gomme, Mr R. Grant Brown, Mr F. H. Hudleston, Mr Edward Hutton, Professor Julius Jolly, Dr A. B. Keith, Dr D. B. Macdonald, Professor D. S. Margoliouth, Miss Joan Procter, Professor C. G. Seligman, and Mr P. G. Trendell.

N. M. P.

    12 Clifton Hill,
St John's Wood, N.W.8,
   3Oth September
1924.

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