The Clever Adulteress & Other Stories: A Treasury of Jain LiteratureThe stories in this collection span almost one thousand years of story-telling in India. Most originate in North India and all were written by Jain monks for the education and amusement of the faithful. Jain literature is both righ and varied. Stories were told in verse and prose, in Sanskrit and in vernacular languages. Some resemble simple folk tales while others are as sophisticated as courtly romances. The stories in Jain literature are about holy men and holy places, famous kings and courtiers and those not often heard in ancient and medieval India--women and toiling villagers. The treasures of India's heritage of story-telling are known to us today mainly from these Jain stories which have been carefully preserved through the years. The stories in The Clever Adulteress have been translated by a renowned group of scholars from India, North America, and Europe. Each translator has chosen his or her favorites from the vast treasures of Jain literature. |
From inside the book
Results 1-3 of 54
Page 48
He took the child and entrusted him to the chief - queen . ( He himself had no
child ) . When Dhāriņi was questioned by the nuns , she answered that the child
was stillbom , that she had left him , and that he did not exist anymore . She then
...
He took the child and entrusted him to the chief - queen . ( He himself had no
child ) . When Dhāriņi was questioned by the nuns , she answered that the child
was stillbom , that she had left him , and that he did not exist anymore . She then
...
Page 100
Many are the women who have fulfilled themselves in this world , bantering softly
to their handsome children , the fruit of their very own wombs . And sitting ... But I
am the most miserable of women , for I do not have even one child . ” And as ...
Many are the women who have fulfilled themselves in this world , bantering softly
to their handsome children , the fruit of their very own wombs . And sitting ... But I
am the most miserable of women , for I do not have even one child . ” And as ...
Page 258
The coin showed the four feet of the doe and the child . A rumor of the child ' s
birth spread among the people : " Someone is a new king . ” The king beard this ,
and sent his warriors to kill the child . They saw him one evening at the town gate
.
The coin showed the four feet of the doe and the child . A rumor of the child ' s
birth spread among the people : " Someone is a new king . ” The king beard this ,
and sent his warriors to kill the child . They saw him one evening at the town gate
.
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LibraryThing Review
User Review - bethlakshmi - LibraryThingGreat set of Jain stories. Has some good descriptions and commentary on cultural information, too. A little heavy for a "fun read", but generally worth it. Read full review
Contents
A parable from the Nāyādhammakahão | 7 |
Friedhelm Hardy | 118 |
two stories from a medieval pilgrimage | 183 |
Copyright | |
3 other sections not shown
Other editions - View all
The Clever Adulteress and Other Stories: A Treasury of Jaina Literature Phyllis Granoff Limited preview - 1993 |
Common terms and phrases
appeared ascetic asked attained beautiful became become began Bharata birth Blessed body Brahmins brothers brought called cause chapter child daughter death deeds demi-god desire devoted earth eating elephant enjoy entered eyes faith father feet fire five four fruit gave gift girl give given Goddess gods gold hand happened head heard honored husband Jain Jaina jewels Jina killed king knowledge known lady leave liberation lived looked Lord magic matter means merchant mind minister monk mother mountain named night ocean offering once performed person pleasures practice praised princes queen reached religious replied respect stay story taken teacher tell temple things thinking thought told took translation tree true verse Victorious wealth wife wish woman worldly worship young