ANNA TRYNKOWSKA
University of Warsaw a.trynkowska@uw.edu.pl
SYNONYMS AND DOUBLE MEANINGS. SELECTED ASPECTS OF THE POETIC STYLE OF THE BOOK OF KARṆA OF THE MAHĀBHĀRATA AND REMARKS ON APPROPRIATE TRANSLATION STRATEGIES
Between 2017 and 2026, I had the pleasure of taking part in a project aimed at translating the battle books of the Mahābhārata (MBh 6-11) into Polish, alongside colleagues from the University of Warsaw, the University of Wrocław, and Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań. I undertook the task of translating most of the Book of Karṇa (chapters 1-57), which I rendered in slightly rhythmic, poetic prose; chapters 58-69 were translated by Joanna Jurewicz. In this paper, I would like to discuss some of the features of the original Sanskrit text that I found challenging during the translation process. As a specialist in Classical Sanskrit literature, I will focus on the more artful passages and certain trends that become more prominent later on in kāvya works. These include the deliberate choice of the most appropriate word from among numerous synonyms, as well as the use of words and phrases with double meanings. A close analysis of selected verses (such as MBh 8,10.9, MBh 8,12.61, etc., to exemplify the use of synonyms; and MBh 8,5.106, MBh 8,8.31, MBh 8,12.67, etc., to exemplify double meanings) will enable me to comment on the poetic style of the authors and the most suitable translation strategies.