The Juices of Poetics

First Online: July 16, 2000
Page Last Updated: February 17, 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.