The Juices of Poetics

First Online: July 16, 2000
Page Last Updated: August 20, 2024

The Rasas (ru-sa -- from Sanskrit essence or juice -- roughly translated as the juices of poetics) are central to evaluating the quality of literature. The Navarasas as they are referred to, are nine in number and are listed below:

• Love
• Courage
• Loathing or Disgust 
• Anger
• Mirth
• Terror
• Pity
• Awe
• Surprise

According to traditional Indian grammars, every poem should contain one or more of these flavors.