How the Nagas Were Pleased & The Shattered Thighs

By Harsha, Bhasa, Andrew Skilton (translator)

Book cover of How the Nagas Were Pleased & The Shattered Thighs

Book description

Two tragic plays that break the rules: both show the hero dying on stage, a scenario forbidden in Sanskrit dramaturgy. King Harsha's play, composed in the seventh century, re-examines the Buddhist tale of a magician prince who makes the ultimate sacrifice to save a hostage snake (naga). The Shattered Thighs,…

Explore

Topics

Sanskrit

Genres

Coming soon!

When you buy books, we may earn a commission that helps keep our lights on (or join the rebellion as a member).

Why read it?

1 author picked How the Nagas Were Pleased & The Shattered Thighs as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Sohini Sarah Pillai

Author

The Urubhanga or the Shattered Thighs is one of six Sanskrit Mahabharata dramas that are attributed to the playwright Bhasa (ca. 200 CE). There are two things about the Shattered Thighs that I find particularly fascinating. The first is that the hero of the play is Duryodhana, the leader of the one hundred Kauravas who is usually seen as the villain of the Mahabharata tradition. The second is that the Shattered Thighs violates one of the central rules of Sanskrit dramas by (spoiler alert!) depicting the central hero of the play physically dying on stage. There are multiple English translations…

From Sohini's list on Mahabharata poems, plays, and novels.