Chapter 1

CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS

Published by Harvard University

1905

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THE LITTLE CLAY CART

[MRCCHAKATIKA]

A Hindu Drama

ATTRIBUTED TO KING SHUDRAKA

TRANSLATED FROM THE ORIGINAL SANSKRIT AND PRAKRITS

INTO ENGLISH PROSE AND VERSE

BY

ARTHUR WILLIAM RYDER, PH.D.

INSTRUCTOR IN SANSKRIT IN HARVARD UNIVERSITY

CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS

Published by Harvard University

1905

COPYRIGHT, 1905, BY HARVARD UNIVERSITY

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TO MY FATHER

WILLIAM HENRY RYDER

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CONTENTS

NOTE BY THE EDITOR OF THE SERIES

PREFACE BY THE TRANSLATOR

INTRODUCTION

THE AUTHOR AND THE PLAY

THE TRANSLATION

AN OUTLINE OF THE PLOT

DRAMATIS PERSONAE

TRANSLATION OF THE LITTLE CLAY CART

PROLOGUE