Who is man math a Nath Dutt? This Question starts haunting bibek Debroy when he finds that name imprinted on the translations of almost all ancient texts that he too wants to translate from Sanskrit text into English. While multiple translations are not uncommon, what were the chances of two translators invariably choosing the same set of texts? It was almost like man math a Nath Dutt had left a trail for bibek Debroy to follow. And that sets off Debroy on the road to discovering more about the translator extraordinaire who had largely remained ignored so far. Gathering material and sifting through clues, following various leads and discarding some, Debroy pieces together a jigsaw puzzle to reveal a picture of the prolific translator man math a Nath duty and of nineteenth-century Calcutta.

A gorgeous, lucid rendering of the majestic conclusion to the Mahabharata As an epilogue to the greatest epic of all time, the Harivamsha further elaborates on the myriad conflicts of dharma and the struggle between good and evil. Stories abound—from the cosmogony of the universe to the legends of the solar and lunar dynasties and even a foreshadowing of kali yuga in the future. At the centre of all these magnificent tales is the mercurial figure of Krishna, whose miraculous life and wondrous exploits are recounted with vivid detail. In offering a glimpse into Krishna’s life—as a mischievous child, as an enchanting lover, as a discerning prince—this luminous text sheds light on many questions left unanswered in the Mahabharata. Brimming with battles and miracles, wisdom and heroics, philosophical insight and psychological acuity, Bibek Debroy’s splendid translation of the Harivamsha is absolutely essential reading for all those who love the Mahabharata.