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 73

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SAHRDAYĀLOKA In the context of literary criticism Kuntaka has made an important observation that due to a sort of chemical composition brought about by word, meaning and 'alamkāra', poetry is born which is an indivisible whole. He says : (Vakroktijīvita = V.J.; I. 6) :
"alamkştir alamkāryam apóddhịtya vivecyate | tadupāyatayā, tattvam
sā'lamkārasya kāvyatā ||” "The 'adornment' and 'adorned' are distinguished artificially for the purpose of our enquiry, becuase this would be the only means to attain the ultimate goal. The truth of the matter, however, remains that the two together constitute poetry." - (Trans. K. Kris. pp. 291, 'VJ. of Kuntaka', Dharwad, Edn. '77).
"Ornament or adornment relates to the act of embellishing. That which is adorned is the content and that which adorns is the linguistic means or medium. Both are subjected to examination here. The method adopted is that of definition of the general and the particular. For purposes of such a definition it becomes essential to consider the two separately, though they form an indivisible unity. The nature of poetry as a whole is realized through the means of the 'adornment and the 'adorned'. Such a distinction is very helpful in offering one a course of instruction in poetry. In fact, this is a common practice in other disciplines also to make such unreal distinctions in order that the purpose of education is fulfilled. For instance in grammar, a whole word is split into base and termination, and a whole sentence is subdivided into words"-(yathā padántarbhūtayoḥ prakrti-pratyayayor-vākyántarbhūtānām padānām ceti.) (vịtti, on VJ. I. 6; Trans. K. Kris., pp. 291, 2, ibid)
Kuntaka further observes that this distinction is attempted only to cultivate understanding. The real truth is that poetry is a work of a poet, wherein the undivided whole of the 'adorned' and the 'adornment'is the reality. So, it is clear that poetry is the name of what is adorned already and the question of adding adornment to pre-existing poetry does not arise :
"tattvam sálamkārasya kāvyatā tad ayam atra paramārthaḥ - sálamkārasya alamkarana-sahitasya sakalasya nirastávayavasya sataḥ, samudāyasya kāvyatā, kavikarmatvam tena alamkrtasya kāvyatvam iti sthitam, na punaḥ kāvyasya alamkārayogah” - (výtti; VJ. I. 6)