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I knew RBSI would come up with this. I don't know why this iscalled Sringar Rasa. It is full of lament against women and the curse of the Kamadev. The translation though looks winderful. It would be fun to read the sanskrit version.

I have been a bit unfair to my friend Bhartrihari. He is tender in some verses, bitter in others. See this one: My love within a forest walked alone, All in a moonlit dale ; And here awhile she rested, weary grown, And from her shoulders threw the wimpled veil To court the little gale. I peering through the thicket saw it all, The yellow moonbeams fall, I saw them mirrored from her bosom fly Back to the moon on high. And another where he is as bitter can be:

So, I am not the only one enamored of Bhatrhari. So many Englishmen were also equally attracted by his writings.

This translation is a great attempt. In the elaborate introductory epistle addressed to perhaps his fellow traveler the author has succinctly written about how the finer feelings are felt in India as well as among the English people. There is a passing reference to Vedanta typ. the Advaita Vedanta, that is reasonably accurate; of course one cannot do justice to a very involved concept distilled out of no less than 10 Principal Upanishads, at the very least. It is very amusing to see opinions expressed about some of the concepts of Hindu Religion/Philosophy by those who have learnt about it by reading books, and not living it!

The best kudos the author has given to the Hindu as against the Greek and Roman Philosophers is that the RiShis and Philosophers of India seem to have answered the "Knowledge of What ?" is-liberating question, unlike say Plato. Now that is a very good observation. When a Swami Vivekananada says the same thing i.e. the Hindu view of Philosophy as a lived-in experience rather than an intellectual exercise, we understand. One must really appreciate that one given to Western Philosophy having noticed this by himself, i.e. without the help of a collateral reading of the complete works ofSwami Vivekananda

It would be a fetish to extol "living" over "reading" and would eventually lead to an argument of racial supremacy. All human experience is capable of sharing through reading, dialogue (dissension and agreement) and sharing.

@Shekhar: I do not know if you got me right. The nature of Indian Philosophy is such that it is not a purely intellectual exercise.Most of Indian Philosopy Vedanta esp at that is related to God and what is called as God-experience. While it is not impossible to just stick on to an intellectual appreciation, it does amount to much insofar as Hindu Philosophy is concerned. On several forums where I had been asked and written about Hinduism, the one marked difference is that Hinduism can be understood by living it only. The understanding gained by reading and discourse as you have said leaves one in doubt. This s because there quite a few esoteric concepts woven into Hindu Philosophy. I do not understand what is that racist idea that you are alluding to. That is a British penchant, or may be European, writings of the last century?

How is the preference of one school of philosophic over other racism?