The Kathá Sarit Ságara; or, Ocean of the Streams of Story
The Katha Sarit Sagara, the Ocean of the Streams of Story, was composed in Sanskrit verse by the Kashmiri Brahmin Somadeva around 1070 for the queen of Kashmir, as a retelling of a lost older collection, the Brihatkatha. Its frame is the adventures of Naravahanadatta, son of the king of Vatsa, but the frame is almost lost under the hundreds of stories told within it: tales of clever thieves and foolish Brahmins, faithful and faithless wives, demons, vampires, flying cities, merchants shipwrecked on islands of gold, and the whole of the Panchatantra and the Vetala stories besides. C. H. Tawney's translation, published in Calcutta in 1880 and 1884 and complete here, was the first in English. It is available to read online in your browser on Vinteuil, with the first chapter free.
Start reading right away, without signing up. The complete text is included in Vinteuil Reading, or yours forever with a one-time purchase.
Frequently asked questions about The Kathá Sarit Ságara; or, Ocean of the Streams of Story
The Kathá Sarit Ságara; or, Ocean of the Streams of Story by Somadeva Bhatta can be read online on Vinteuil, directly in your browser. The first chapter is free for everyone; the complete book is included in Vinteuil Reading ($4.99/month or $39.99/year) or yours forever for $2.99.
Can I read The Kathá Sarit Ságara; or, Ocean of the Streams of Story online?
Yes. The Kathá Sarit Ságara; or, Ocean of the Streams of Story opens right on this page, in a reader designed for long reading: adjustable text size, light, sepia and dark themes, a clickable table of contents and your place saved when you are signed in. No download or app is needed.
Is The Kathá Sarit Ságara; or, Ocean of the Streams of Story free to read on Vinteuil?
The first chapter of The Kathá Sarit Ságara; or, Ocean of the Streams of Story is free, without an account. To read the whole book, either buy its online reading for $2.99 (£2.99 in the UK) and keep it forever, or subscribe to Vinteuil Reading for $4.99/month (£4.99/month in the UK) or $39.99/year, with 1 month free for new subscribers. The subscription opens every book in the library and can be cancelled at any time.
Is The Kathá Sarit Ságara; or, Ocean of the Streams of Story in the public domain?
Yes. The Kathá Sarit Ságara; or, Ocean of the Streams of Story by Somadeva Bhatta is a public-domain work, here in the translation by C. H. Tawney. Vinteuil offers a carefully prepared digital edition made for comfortable reading on screen.
How long does it take to read The Kathá Sarit Ságara; or, Ocean of the Streams of Story?
About 42 h 56 min of reading, at an average reading pace. Your place is saved automatically when you are signed in, so you can read in several sittings and on several devices.
What kind of book is The Kathá Sarit Ságara; or, Ocean of the Streams of Story?
The Kathá Sarit Ságara; or, Ocean of the Streams of Story by Somadeva Bhatta is filed under "Religion & Mythology" in the Vinteuil library.
