The Pond of Blossoming White Lotuses: An Ornamental Ode to the Goddess of Melodies, Sarasvatī by Shuchen Tsultrim Rinchen
Joie Szu-Chiao Chen
Issue Section Translations
Keywords Buddhist poetry, Poetry, poetry, Kāvyādarśa, snyan ngag, kāvya, Snyan ngag me long, Derge, Sarasvatī, Derge Parkhang
Abstract
This is a translation of a poem written by Shuchen Tsultrim Rinchen (Zhu chen Tshul khrims rin chen, 1697-1774), best known as the editor of the Dergé edition of the Tengyur. Though written in his late twenties before his tenure at Dergé, already on display in this poem praising the goddess Sarasvatī is his prodigious prowess in snyan ngag or Tibetan poetry inspired by the Indian kāvya tradition. In this poem of forty-one stanzas, Shuchen utilizes all thirty-five alaṃkāras (rgyan), the rhetorical "ornaments" whose usage distinguishes the exalted kāvya form from commonplace poetry. Provided along with this translation is a stanza-by-stanza commentary by the translator.
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Joie Szu-Chiao Chen
Published 2026-06-01
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