Shatakatrayam

(“The Three Hundred”) Collection of
Sanskrit poems ascribed to the poetphilosopher Bhartrhari, who is believed
to have lived in the fifth century. The text is
a three-part collection of poems about
political life, love, and renunciation, which
explore all of the conventional ends of life:
The first two sections are about power
(artha), sensual or physical desire (kama),
and righteous action (dharma), whereas
the final section is concerned with liberation of the soul (moksha). Much of the
poetry carries a cynical, slightly bitter
tone, suggesting the world-weariness of a
man who has seen too much of the harsh
realities of life. For further information see
Barbara Stoller Miller (trans.), The Hermit
and the Love-Thief, 1978.