Stories Behind Verses is a remarkable collection of over a hundred anecdotes, each of which captures a story behind the composition of a Sanskrit verse. Collected over several years from various sources with tireless effort by Śatāvadhāni Dr. R Ganesh, these stories took the shape of the Kannada book Kavitegondu Kathe. When this was published in 1996, it was a first of its kind. It gained wide popularity among the critics and the laity not only for its riveting episodes but also for its mellifluous writing.
This book is an English adaptation of Kavitegondu Kathe by Arjun Bharadwaj and Shashi Kiran B N, who have captured the original in both letter and spirit. Witty, romantic, melancholic, provocative, poignant, and profound by turns, Stories Behind Verses will tug your tendermost strings of feeling and stir your emotions.
Ashish Iyer –
Stories Behind Verses is not just a book—it is a journey into the heart of Sanskrit literature, where each verse breathes with the life of an untold story. This remarkable collection presents over a hundred anecdotes, each revealing the historical, cultural, or personal context behind the creation of a Sanskrit shloka. With each page, one is transported into an era where language, intellect, and poetic brilliance shaped the spirit of the times.
What makes this work stand apart is the author’s profound command of language. Shatavadhani Dr. R. Ganesh writes not as a translator or interpreter, but as a master of both thought and expression. Unlike many contemporary Indian authors who often lean on translated material, he writes from an authentic wellspring of knowledge. Originally written in Kannada, this book retains the elegance and depth of its source even in translation.
Reading this book was a sheer delight—an engaging blend of scholarship and storytelling. It doesn’t just present verses; it breathes life into them by offering the vivid societal or personal backdrops that inspired their composition. It is both intellectually stimulating and emotionally resonant.
If you have any love for Sanskrit or Indian literary heritage, Stories Behind Verses is a must-read. Dr. Ganesh is a living legend—an unparalleled polymath and cultural treasure, though regrettably still not widely recognized outside Karnataka. One hopes that changes soon. I am now eager to explore more of his works, especially those available in English.
Also worth mentioning are Arjun Bharadwaj and Shashi Kiran BN—brilliant translators whose work ensures that such rich literature reaches a wider audience without losing its soul.