Sahrdayaloka Part 01

SR No.: 006908
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Tapasvi Nandi
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad
Publication Year: 2005
Total Pages: 602
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 14 MB

Page 49

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SAHRDAYĀLOKA DAŅDIN : In his Kāvyādarśa (= Kā.) Dandin has formulated the definition of poetry : "śarīram tāvad istā’rtha-vyavacchinnā-padāvaliḥ” (Kā. I. 10b.). There were two major thought-currents prevelent concerning the definition of poetry; one being that as read in Bhämaha which lays equal stress on both word and sense in the making of poetry, i.e. which proclaims that “sabdārthau sahitau kāvyam”. Actually, according to a variant noticed in the Nā-Šā. of Bharata, on pp. 347, under XVI-128, (G.O.S. Edn.), we read as follows :
“mțdu-lalita-padā’rtham gūdha-sabdā’rtha-hīnam janapada-sukha-bhojyam yuktiman nịttayojyam | bahuksta-rasa-mārgam sandhi-sandhāna-yuktam
bhavati sukavi-kāvyam nātyakāle manojñam 11" “Poetry of good poets, that wins the heart at the time of dramatic performance, is having soft and pleasing word and sense, is bereft of word and meaning that are difficult to understand (because of their being hidden or obscure); is enjoyed easily by people, which stands to reason and which can be conveyed through dạnce, in which there is scope for a style that conveys many sentiments and which is gifted with junctures and their limbs”. We can see the thought-current of calling both word and sense together as poetry can be read in the above quotation. But we do not know wether this variant can be taken as reliable. But we can surely begin with Bhāmaha who advocated the company of both word and sense to make for poetry. The second thought current seems to be represented by Dandin which takes 'sabdah' i.e. 'word only as the distinctive mark of poetry. Whatever it may be, but the fact remains that definitions explaining the concept of 'kavya' i.e. poetry need not be taken as opposing one another, but only as complementary, because those who accept the second line of thinking giving prominance to the 'word' element in the definition, never support the position where this word stands by itself, regardless of the meaning element. The problem centres round the differentia. Earlier literary critics, perhaps also well versed in logic - i.e. nyāyaśāstra - to exhibit their learning and their absolute faith in the science of logic or reasoning, utilize the technical terminology to cristalise and sharpen literary criticism also. It is because of this tendency to perfection which brings forth the suble designs evolved in literary criticism by succeeding poeticians such as Visvanātha and Jagannātha and which also reveals the close affinity of alamkāra-śāstra, to the disciplines of nyāya i.e. logic, and vyākarana i.e. grammar.