The Shiva Purana is the fifth book in an eighteen-part series on the sacred Hindu texts known collectively as the Puranas. Translated with great rigor and precision, Bibek Debroy recounts the tales of creation and the many myths that surround Lord Shiva in twenty-four thousand shlokas and an introduction that simplifies the myth and history of the Puranas.
Brimming with insight and clarity, this translation presents readers with an opportunity to truly understand classical Indian texts. Previous translations by Bibek Debroy include the Bhagavata Purana, the Markandeya Purana, the Brahma Purana, and the Vishnu Purana.
Catagory: Classics
The Loom Of Time
Kalidasa is the greatest poet and playwright in classical Sanskrit literature and one of the greatest in world literature. Kalidasa is said to have lived and composed his work at the close of the first millennium BC though his dates have not been conclusively established. In all, seven of his works have survived: three plays, three long poems and an incomplete epic. Of these, this volume offers, in a brilliant new translation, his two most famous works-the play Sakuntala, a beautiful blend of romance and fairy tale with elements of comedy; and Meghadutam (The Cloud Messenger), the many-layered poem of longing and separation. Also included is Rtusamharam (The Gathering of the Seasons), a much-neglected poem that celebrates the fulfillment of love and deserves to be known better. Taken together, these works provide a window to the remarkable world and work of a poet of whom it was said: ‘Once, when poets were counted, Kalidasa occupied the little finger; the ring finger remains unnamed true to its name; for his second has not been found.’
Bhagavata Purana Boxset (Set of 3)
A seamless blend of fable and philosophy, the Bhagavata Purana is perhaps the most revered text in the Vaishnava tradition. It brings to life the legends of gods, asuras, sages and kings-all the while articulating the crucial ethical and philosophical tenets that underpin Hindu spiritualism.
The narrative unfolds through a series of conversations and interconnected stories. We are told how the sage Vyasa was inspired by Narada to compose the Bhagavata Purana as a means to illumine the path to a spiritual life. We learn of the devotion of Prahlada, the austerity of Dhruva, and the blinding conceit of Daksha. Also recounted are tales of the many incarnations of Vishnu, especially Krishna, whom we see grow from a beloved and playful child to a fierce protector of the faithful.
Matsya Purana Vol 2
The Matsya Purana (volumes 1 and 2) are the tenth text among the eighteen Maha Puranans that constitute one of the most sacred of ancient Hindu texts. Based on the matsya (or fish) avatar of Lord Vishnu, this Purana is generally considered to be one of the oldest and can be dated to 200 to 500 CE.
In Bibek Debroy’s detailed and rigorous translation the Matsya Purana comes to life for readers—a rare gift from one of the masters of Sanskrit literature.
The other books in the Purana series include the Bhagavata Purana, Brahma Purana, Markandeya Purana, Brahmanda Purana, Vishnu Purana, Shiva Purana and the Kurma Purana.
The Constitution of India
Crafted with extraordinary vision and forged through intense debate, The Constitution of India stands as one of humanity’s most remarkable experiments in democratic nation-building. Adopted on 26 January 1950, this foundational text not only establishes the foundational structure of India but also enshrines the ideals of justice, liberty, equality and fraternity for more than a billion citizens.
This Penguin edition presents The Constitution of India as both a legal charter and a moral compass—an evolving document that continues to shape India’s political, social and cultural life. Readers will discover the profound balance it strikes between individual rights and collective responsibilities, the federal framework that binds a diverse nation, and the guiding principles that empower institutions while safeguarding citizens.
Whether you are a student, a scholar, or a curious reader, this edition of The Constitution of India, accompanied by a comprehensive contextual introduction, invites you to engage with the living heartbeat of the Republic—a masterpiece of governance, hope and enduring democratic aspiration.
The Alphabets of Africa
The Alphabets of Africa is an ode to a continent that continues to define the human journey. Through time, space and memory, these poems map Africa, celebrating its vast and vibrant tapestry. From the splendour of its ancient civilization to the pulse of contemporary African cities, to inspiring icons and leaders, this book summons Africa in all its depth and glory. Drawn from Abhay K.’s travels across the continent, these poems are an invitation to shed the inherited stereotypes and see Africa afresh.
Matsya Purana Vol 1
The Matsya Purana (volumes 1 and 2) are the tenth text among the eighteen Maha Puranans that constitute one of the most sacred of ancient Hindu texts. Based on the matsya (or fish) avatar of Lord Vishnu, this Purana is generally considered to be one of the oldest and can be dated to 200 to 500 CE.
In Bibek Debroy’s detailed and rigorous translation the Matsya Purana comes to life for readers—a rare gift from one of the masters of Sanskrit literature.
The other books in the Purana series include the Bhagavata Purana, Brahma Purana, Markandeya Purana, Brahmanda Purana, Vishnu Purana, Shiva Purana and the Kurma Purana.
Sleep Journeys
Sleep Journeys, is counted as one the finest of Urdu’s contemporary poets, Azra Abbas’s collection of verse. She is also among the first Urdu poets to contribute to the growing popularity of experimental, free verse poetry in the late twentieth century. Divided into three cantos that took the Urdu poetic world by storm when it first appeared in 1981, it is one of Azra’s most dense and complex works, a dream-like rumination that explores faith, female desire, and the subconscious mind.
The Black Rose
A young student in pre-Independence Dacca, Ranajit Dutta is relatively untouched by the patriotic fervour gripping the rest of the country. He is suffocated by and often critical of, the constricted environment and superstition ridden society he lives in. He seeks an escape through poetry and his search for the embodiment of universal womanhood. But one event shakes up his idealism and fundamentally changes his relationships with the women in his life: his first love Mitu Bardhan; his affectionate but neglected aunt Kajol; his revolutionary friend Bulbul; his naive, adoring wife Nalini. A man’s perennial quest for the unattainable, Black Rose also brings alive the heady idealism and the charged years when India was struggling to be free.
The Sour Mango Tree
The Sour Mango Tree is a homage to a life less ordinary. Palya Lankesh was an author, journalist, screenplay writer, poet and translator. His multi-faceted and prolific oeuvre encompasses essays scripts and stories, among much else. This volume is a translation of his memoir, Hulimavina Mara which includes his prose and poetry and is a rare glimpse into the mind of the maverick. Twenty-five years after Lankesh left us, this volume enables us to truly appreciate the significance of his legacy.