Recent Publications

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214 RECENT PUBLICATIONS shown by Bechert. The text was written by the author in German and translated by a professional translator. It is to be hoped that the original German text will be published in the near future. The Literatures of India. An Introduction by Edward C. Dimock Jr., Edwin Gerow, C. M. Naim, A. K. Ramanujan, Gordon Roadarmel and J. A. B. van Buitenen. Chicago-London, The University of Chicago Press, 1978. 265 pp. $6.95. This book appeared first in hardback in 1974 and its publication as a paperback (Phoenix Book P768) testifies to its success. This introduction concentrates on a few selected topics, instead of attempting to give a survey of Indian literatures. A very attractive aspect of this book is the importance given to Indian poetics. Without some knowledge of it, it is difficult to understand how Indian literature was appreciated by Indians themselves before they were influenced by Western civilization. It would be useful to add to a future edition, a list of good translations for the benefit of the reader who wants to read Indian literary works, without learning an Indian language. The Concept of Duty in South Asia. Edited by Wendy Doniger O'Flaherty and J. Duncan M. Derret. London, School of Oriental and African Studies. Delhi, Vikas Publishing House. 1978. xxii, 240 pp. PS3.50. According to the unsigned introduction the papers published in this volume were readʼat a . conference on the concept of duty in South Asia. The date of the conference is nowhere mentioned. Part I: The Ancient Period: Duty and dharma contains seven papers. Arnold Kunst, 'Use and Misuse of Dharma', pp. 3-17; J. Duncan M. Derrett, 'The Concept of Duty in Ancient - Indian Jurisprudence; The Problem of Ascertainment', pp. 18-65; Friedrich Wilhelm, 'The Concept of Dharma in Artha and Kama Literature', pp. 66-79; J. C. Heesterman, 'Veda and Dharma', pp. 80-95; Wendy Doniger O'Flaherty, 'The Clash between Relative and Absolute Duty: The Dharma of Demons', pp. 96-106; Richard F. Gombrich, "The Duty of a Buddhist according to the Pali Scriptures', pp. 107-118; Alex Gunasekara; 'Rajakariya or the Duty to the King in the Kandyan Kingdom of Sri Lanka', pp. 119-143. Six articles are found in Part II: The Medieval and Modern Period: Muslim, British and Nationalist Concepts of Duty. There is no article on the duties of members of a family and especially on those of women, but this is perhaps due to the opinion of women expressed by one of the editors on p. 23. One wonders whether this is the reason why on p. xiv the chairperson attributes the feminine gender to ius: "summa ius, summa inuria". Apart from these minor derailments this volume contains much interesting material on duty and dharma. Francois Martini (tr.), La gloire de Rama. Ramakerti. Ramayana cambodgien. Traduction de Francois Martini. Introduction et notes de Ginette Martini (Collection "Le monde indien", vol. 3). Paris, Les Belles Lettres, 1978. xliii, 243 pp. Fr. 75.00. Francois Martini n'a pu realiser son plan de publier une traduction du Ramayana cambodgien qu'il avait etudie pendant de nombreuses annees et auquel il avait consacre plusieurs articles (1938, 1950, 1952, 1961). La traduction que presente Mme Ginette Martini comprend une