French Translation Of The Two Great Epics
(AUROGEETA DAS)
Attentive readers of Serge Demetrian's Le Ramayana and Le Mahabharata will find clues that reveal their oral source. Demetrian has translated the two great epics into French from oral narratives, particularly those recounted in Kancheepuram. One clue is the prolongation of certain parts; for example, in Le Râmâyana, Jatayu tells Rama that it was Ravana who abducted Sita, yet when Vali and Hanuman later inform Rama that they saw a demon carrying away Sita, Rama asks for the demon's identity. Even after discovering that it is certainly Ravana who abducted Sita, and that his capital is Lanka, Rama sends out four massive search parties, the last of which must comb southern India and Lanka. One would think they would start with Lanka as the most probable spot. Instead we are first given accounts of the other three search parties; the narrative is stretched to the optimum so detail can be highlighted. Equally interesting are interwoven tales typical of oral traditions, such as a charming story explaining why the Vindhyas are a low mountain range. Translation The prologue in Le Râmâyana recounts how Valmiki, the dacoit, turned into a sage, became a devotee of Rama, and eventually wrote the Ayodhya king's biography. The main narrative presents the detailed story of Rama and Sita, first and foremost as an epic tale of romantic yet virtuous love; it ends with Rama's coronation. The epilogue includes Rama's repudiation of Sita, her banishment to the forest and the birth of the royal heirs; it ends with Rama's death. Demetrian's translation deviates from the most popular version of the Ramayana in some respects, among them the manner in which Lava and Kusha meet Rama. Instead of them challenging the Ashwamedha horse, here they meet their father as itinerant singers visiting Ayodhya during the great sacrifice. Both epics are written in prose but are peppered with loosely translated poetic verse; this pleasantly varies the text's pace and rhythm. Read consecutively, the two epics reveal similarities. Apart from sharing some sages and the Indian pantheon of gods and goddesses, both include a 14-year exile. Additionally, the heroines of both epics are humiliated and are catalysts for war. In Le Mahâbhârata, Draupadi suffers in various ways. In Le Râmâyana, Sita is suspected unjustly despite her trial by fire. Features Although Le Mahâbhârata is a more complex narrative, as compared to the linear Ramayana, Demetrian has deliberately pruned it to the principal story. The prologue describes Vyasa's birth and his inspiration to write the history of the Bharata clan. The main narrative does not differ much from other versions of the epic, recounting the battle of virtue between the Pandavas and the Kauravas. Two parts distinguish it from customary epics: Krishna's sermon to Arjuna on the battlefield ? the Mahabharata's acknowledged kernel ? , and Bhishma's advice to Yudhishthira ? on his deathbed ? on monarchy and governance. Not all versions of the Mahabharata offer what Demetrian's does: an epilogue that traces the destruction of the Yadava clan and the Pandavas' adventures en route to heaven. Careless errors are occasional irritants. In Le Mahâbhârata, Krishna is alternately described as Kunti's nephew and brother. In Le Râmâyana, Rama and his siblings are married in a quadruple wedding but Sita apart, the women are not mentioned elsewhere. Indeed, Lakshmana is later considered a bachelor. However, the translation is excellent, combining precision and poetry. The lucid introductions place both epics chronologically. Definite bonuses are annexes that provide a contextual overview of the gods, an introduction to the philosophy of Brahman, and a family tree for the principal clans involved. Francophone readers will find these translations of the two Indian epics eminently accessible.
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