Bhartṛhari's Śatakatraya: A Treasure Trove of Insights
Introduction Śatakatraya is a collection of three Sanskrit poems, each containing a hundred verses. The three śataka's are known as the Nītiśataka, Śṛṅgāraśataka, and Vairāgyaśataka. They are attributed to the 6th-century Indian philosopher and grammarian Bhartṛhari. The Three Śatakas The Nītiśataka is a collection of wise sayings on a variety of topics, including politics, ethics, and philosophy. It is considered to be one of the most important works of Sanskrit niti śāstra (lit. 'science of ethics'). The Śṛṅgāraśataka is a collection of love poems, which explore the themes of love, beauty, and desire. It is considered to be one of the finest examples of Sanskrit love poetry. The Vairāgyaśataka is a collection of poems on the theme of dispassion, or detachment from worldly concerns. It is considered to be one of the most important works of Sanskrit vairāgya śāstra (lit. 'science of dispassion'). The Author Bhartṛhari was a 6th-century Indian ph