Epic Undertakings. Papers of the 12? World Sanskrit Conference Volume 2

摘要

Sanskrit 'epic studies' - work concentrating on the monumental Mahdbharata and Rdmdyana, along with their assorted textual satellites — exist in an odd place within the wider world of Indology. Scholars of literature, history, art, religion, philosophy - that is, practically anyone professionally interested in the culture of early India - need to engage with the MBh and the Ram as a matter of course, and so the constituency of those interested in the texts is wide indeed. Yet, the study of the 'epics' (the MBh and the Ram are heterogeneous in their self-understanding, but the label has a definite utility to it, and is in any case unavoidable) exists as a self-defined subfield. This has many benefits, not the least of which is a coherent scholarly cadre sharing evidence and critically questioning each others interpretations.