Studies in Jain Literature

SR No.: 001868
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: V M Kulkarni
Publisher: Shardaben Chimanbhai Educational Research Centre
Publication Year: 2001
Total Pages: 114
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Literature, & Story
File Size: 14 MB

Page 497

PRAKRIT VERSES IN SANSKRIT WORKS ON POETICS 479 well as great beauty of composition is achieved by adopting a single sentiment as predominant in any poem as a whole"69. Vakpati, taking his cue from Pravarasena, also speaks of new ideas and beauty of composition in his Gaudavaho70 before Anandavardhana : "It is only in Prakrit that we shall have in abundant measure, till (the end) of the world's duration, a presentation of ever fresh themes and a rich variety of compositions that are cool and pleasing in their arrangement."71 Anandavardhana quotes Gaudavaho v, no. 416 to illustrate atyantatiraskrta-vacya (dhvani) : "How charming when the clouds reel in the sky; how lovely when in the woods the white Arjuna trees are torn (shaken ?) by great downpours of rain. Though in the sky the moon has lost all pride yet these black nights have a haunting beauty of their own."72 Here the words "reel" and "has lost all pride" are full of suggestion with the literal meaning completely lost. Anandavardhana seems to have quoted another Prakrit gatha most probably from Vakpati's Mahumahaviaa (Sk Madhumathavijaya) as pointed out earlier72. As pointed out by Dr. Masson and Prof. Patwardhan73 several of Anandavardhana's (or Karikakara's) most cherished ideas come from this great poem (Gaudavaho) : In his Vrtti on Karika II. 16 Anandavardhana observes : "In the case of a poet who is intent upon suggesting rasas and who has imaginative genius (pratibhanavat), even figures of speech which may appear (to the reader) difficult (to create) clamour to present themselves to him." This statement is very similar to Vakpati's observation. "The minds of other (i. e. ordinary) poets wander about frantically searching for subjectmatter. (But) in the case of great poets the themes themselves rush to their hearts, without any effort on their part"74. Again, Anandavardhana's long discussion on anantya, the endlessness of poetic themes, is certainly influenced by Vakpati's some of the fine gathas dealing with 'The praise of poets.' Anandavardhana's discussion may briefly be summarised as follows : "For literature (vani) that is embellished with any one of these varieties (of suggestion) though it reproduces ideas already treated, appears fresh (navarvam). By using rasa in a poem even subjects seen time and again will appear new, just as do trees in the month of March-with the advent of spring.