Chapter 4 - The Informal Education of Sanskrit in Kerala: Modern Streams

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Translations also encouraged some readers to search for its Sanskrit
originals and study Sanskrit in order to have an experience of direct
reading of Sanskrit texts.
Translators like Kutti Krishna Marar accepted the methodology of
presenting the original Sanskrit text along with the Malayalam translation.
This helped the readers to enjoy the beauty of word by word translation
and make occasional comparisons of the original Sanskrit words with the
translated Malayalam words. These type of translation was a great help to
the students of Sanskrit as it gave them a chance to understand the
Sanskrit passages with a prior content knowledge of its meaning. This is
also the case with the translation of Mahābhārata by Kunji Kuṭṭan
Tampuran.
It is a fact that people who want to have a knowledge in Sanskrit
language and literature often start their study by reading translations.
These readings provides them sufficient background and inspiration for
the study of classical language. An ordinary reader who enjoys the
meanings the beautiful verses of Kālidāsa's Sākuntala naturally turns to
the original verses which he finds sweet and enjoyable because of the soft
and clear language and diction. In the field of self study and informal
education the contribution of Malayalam translations of Sanskrit works are
highly note worthy.