"This is an important book—a wonderful selection from the multifarious riches of ancient Indian literature, long overdue, invaluable to scholars, and which will also, I hope, attract ordinary readers into this treasure house." - Salman Rushdie, winner of the Booker Prize

"This is the first anthology ever to include the major languages and works of classical India. Srinivas Reddy’s translations are scrupulously accurate and flow fluently in modern English. The depth of his learning and insight is displayed on every page. His careful attention to the great diversity and richness of this material provides a wonderful and much­needed introduction to one of the world’s great civilizations." ­ George Hart, Professor Emeritus, University of Californa, Berkeley