Preface . . XI
Editors' Note . . XVII
Abbreviations . . XIX

EPICS 
Kings and Ascetics in Indian Classical Literature. A Case-Study of King Dasaratha and the rsis in the Valmiki-Ramayana . . 3
Bharadvaja's Hermitage and the Paradise of the Warrior (Ramayana II 85) . . 25
Where the Ascetics Lead their Life of Austerities, there Peace and Beauty are. What Makes a Place an asrama in the Mahabharata and in Kalidasa's Work . . 43
The Description of the Hermitage. Raghuvamsa I 35-55 . . 61
The Varied Picture of Kings in the natya Literature . . 79
The Angry Ascetic and the Pacifying King: A Socio-Cultural Study in Kalidasa's Poetry . . 93
Some Observations on Sanskrit as Court Language . . 103
Satire, Wit and Humour on Kings and Ascetics in kavya Literature. «He who laughs last, laughs best» . . 117
Desire and Non-Desire. The Forest of Asceticism in the Poetry of Asvaghosa . . 135
Innuendo and Irony in Bana's Treatment of Kings and Ascetics . . 149
The Kings of the Sisupalavadha . . 163

SASTRAS 
King-Priest Relations in the Tradition of the Natyasastra . . 177
The King Is Hunting: Is it Good or Bad? . . 199

MIDDLE AGES AND DEVOTION 
The King and the Ascetic in Kesavadasa's Jahamgtra Jasa Candrika. . . 215
Kings, Ascetics and Sidelong Glances . . 231
The samnvasin and the King. Plays of Society and Acts of Devotion . . 253
Why Would a King Become an Ascetic? A Few Political Answers from Hindi Mediaeval Literature . . 267
Ravana King of Lanka in Tamil Saiva and Vaisnava Devotional Poetry . . 297

A PICTURE GALLERY . . 311

Indexes 
Index of Names . . 349
Index of Literary Works . . 355
Index of Places . . 359