P avan K Varma’s new book, The Lady Who Carried the Monk Across the River , is a gem. The title reverses the well-established story that could, perhaps, astonish readers unless they realise that the river in the title is that which runs between, the life of worldly pleasures and the life of the spiritual aspirant. The book consists of the dialogue between the great Guru Acharya Brihaspati and his student Kevala. They have a fascinating discussion for five days in which Brihaspati quotes scriptures and verse to proclaim that the sanyasi’s life is superior to the worldly life , while Kevala refutes this with sharp arguments. Both sides of the debate are so well presented as to be an education in themselves. The eternal conflict between the two different lifestyles is well brought out in this novel, as also the role of women, including some fairly explicit descriptions of sexual intercourse. The teachings of Vedanta, as contained in the Upanishads, are presented by Brihaspati.…