My forehead worn down by continual prostration— having fulfilled my duty as a servant, I depart. Stony idol of beauty, I adored you to the utmost, established you as the true God in everyone’s regard, and now I depart. It was the way the flowers die and fall from the branch where they were born. I came into this garden called the world, and now I depart. Thank God, I didn’t have to face the sorrow of my friends’ deaths. It was I who etched my grief upon them, and now I depart. – Selections from Selected Ghazals and other Poems by Mir Taqi Mir, Translated from Urdu by Shamsur Rahman Faruqi

The Murty Classical Library of India’s Ten Indian Classics offers a tour of South Asia’s rich literary traditions, spanning from the sixth century BCE to the eighteenth century. From romantic ghazals (a form of amatory ode, originating in Arabic poetry) to sacred verses, and from heroic epics to Buddhist reflections, this anthology encapsulates the vibrancy and diversity of the subcontinent’s storytelling heritage. It opens a window onto a world where poetry, history, philosophy, and spirituality converge. Anchored by the expert translations of leading scholars, the anthology invites readers to navigate its multilingual terrain, featuring works in Sanskrit, Pali, Persian, Panjabi, Urdu, Telugu, and more. Complemented by Indian poet and art critic Ranjit Hoskote’s illuminating foreword, this collection not only celebrates the literary past but also its resonance in contemporary art, music, and culture. Each classic includes a concise summary that provides readers with the context and significance of the work, along with a brief discussion of the challenges involved in translating that particular piece.

The anthology distinguishes itself through its deliberate curation of texts that transcend the bounds of time and geography. The Therīgāthā, for instance, captures the voices of early Buddhist women who renounced worldly ties, offering a rare glimpse into their spiritual journeys. Equally striking are selections like Bharavi’s Kirātārjunīya, a Sanskrit epic chronicling Arjuna’s encounter with Shiva, and Raghavanka’s The Life of Harishchandra, a Kannada masterpiece grappling with themes of truth, caste, and duty. These works, alongside Mir Taqi Mir’s lamentations on love and mortality and Baba Bullhe Shah’s songs of divine surrender, demonstrate the anthology’s dual mission: to honour the unique historical and cultural significance of these texts while making them accessible to modern readers.

What elevates Ten Indian Classics is its sensitivity to the complex act of translation itself. As Hoskote observes, translation in a postcolonial context involves navigating asymmetries of power and interpretation. The anthology not only bridges linguistic divides but also illuminates the ideological tensions that have shaped the reception of South Asia’s classics. Whether capturing the sensuousness of Krishna’s escapades in Sūrsāgar or the philosophical introspection of The Story of Manu, the translators strive to render each text’s emotional and intellectual depth into English, while preserving its cultural essence. This meticulous labour underscores the universal themes embedded in these works—hope and despair, faith and doubt, love and loss—that resonate across centuries and cultures.

Each selection is introduced with a historical and cultural preface, ensuring that readers grasp its significance within and beyond the subcontinent. From the luminous poetry of the past to its modern-day echoes, particularly in television and film, the anthology stands as a testament to the dynamic interplay of tradition and innovation. Far from being relics of a distant past, these texts engage deeply with the human condition, inviting readers to see themselves mirrored in their timeless narratives. Whether for the uninitiated or the connoisseur, this collection serves as both a literary treasure and a profound reflection on what it means to be human.