Welcome to the Clay Sanskrit Library

The Clay Sanskrit Library has been created to introduce Classical Sanskrit literature to a wide international readership. This literature combines great beauty, enormous variety, and more than three thousand years of continuous history and development.

For many interested readers access to this vast treasure store has been hindered by an unfamiliar language and a difficult script. The new Clay Sanskrit Library makes everything easier: the Sanskrit text, written in familiar Roman letters, faces the English translation, and the convenient pocket size is both elegant and practical.

Forty-four leading scholars from ten countries are cooperating to produce fresh new translations that combine readability and accuracy. The first fifteen titles appeared in 2005, co-published by NYU Press and the JJC Foundation, followed by nine volumes in 2006. In 2007 two volumes appeared in March and another two in April. They will be followed by four volumes in October 2007 and five more in January 2008. Within the next four years the Clay Sanskrit Library will grow to about a hundred titles. The selection will focus on drama, poetry and novels, together with the famous epics.

This new and expanded website brings you more information on the titles of our series, plus details on how to buy CSL books.

Welcome to the Clay Sanskrit Library