Svayambhudeva was a poet and scholar who lived in South India around the beginning of the tenth century. His work delves into the depths of the human experience with keen intellect and poetic sensibility. Svayambhudeva's writing is notable for its formal elegance, while also resonating with emotional depth, offering timeless insights to readers.
The Life of Padma, Volume 1 recounts the histories and noteworthy ancestors of Rama's allies and enemies, focusing on his antagonist Ravana. This first direct translation into English of the oldest extant work in Apabhramsha is accompanied by a corrected reprint in the Devanagari script of Harivallabh C. Bhayani's critical edition.
The Life of Padma, Volume 2 recounts Rama's exile in the Dandaka Forest with his wife Sita and brother Lakshmana. When Sita disappears, Rama prepares for war against Ravana. This first direct translation into English of the oldest extant Apabhramsha work appears alongside a corrected text, in the Devanagari script, of Bhayani's critical edition.