Visions and revisions in Sanskrit narrative. Studies in the Sanskrit epics and Purāṇas.

This article is a review of the book "Visions and revisions in Sanskrit narrative: Studies in the Sanskrit epics and Purāṇas" edited by Raj Balkaran and McComas Taylor. The book is a collaboration of eighteen scholars specializing in the Sanskrit epics and purāṇas, and it is divided into three parts focusing on the Mahābhārata, the Rāmāyaṇa, and the purāṇas. Each chapter analyzes different aspects of the narratives, such as framing devices, character studies, and moral themes. The book is available for free in various digital formats. The review points out some shortcomings of the book, including the lack of uniform editorial principles and errors in Sanskrit quotations. The reviewer also criticizes the editors for perpetuating a divide between different types of scholars in the field. Despite these criticisms, the reviewer appreciates the editors' vision but believes that better editorial work and revisions would have improved the quality of the book. [Extracted from the article]