{"product_id":"the-killing-of-shishupala-magha-9780674660397","title":"The Killing of Shishupala","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eA canonical great poem, or \u003ci\u003emahākāvya\u003c\/i\u003e, of the Sanskrit canon, depicting a well-known episode from the \u003ci\u003eMahābhārata\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eMagha's \u003ci\u003eThe Killing of Shishupala\u003c\/i\u003e, written in the seventh century, is a celebrated example of the Sanskrit genre known as \u003ci\u003emahākāvya\u003c\/i\u003e, or great poem. This adaptation from the epic \u003ci\u003eMahābhārata\u003c\/i\u003e tells the story of Shishupala, who disrupts Yudhishthira's coronation by refusing to honor Krishna, the king's principal ally and a manifestation of divinity. When Shishupala challenges Krishna to combat, he is immediately beheaded. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eMagha, who was likely a court poet in western India, draws on the rich stylistic resources of Sanskrit poetry to imbue his work with unparalleled sophistication. He expands the narrative's cosmic implications through elaborate depictions of the natural world and intense erotic sensuality, mixing myth and classical erudition with scenes of political debate and battlefield slaughter. Krishna is variously portrayed as refined prince, formidable warrior, and incarnation of the god Vishnu protecting the world from demonic threat. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eWith this translation of \u003ci\u003eThe Killing of Shishupala\u003c\/i\u003e, presented alongside the original text in the Devanagari script, English readers for the first time gain access to a masterwork that has dazzled Indian audiences for a thousand years.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Magha\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 0674660390\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780674660397\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Harvard University Press\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 01\/05\/2017\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 832\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Hardcover\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 2.05lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 8.10h x 5.70w x 1.80d","brand":"Magha","offers":[{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":47243998953727,"sku":"9780674660397","price":35.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_588e3b6f-7c09-4514-9337-0961e23a1d13.jpg?v=1758134690","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/the-killing-of-shishupala-magha-9780674660397","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}