Indological Studies

SR No.: 022756
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: H C Bhayani
Publisher: Parshva Prakashan
Publication Year: 1993
Total Pages: 376
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 25 MB

Page 96

Literary and Performing Arts:
2. Dhavalas in the Apabhramsa prosodic tradition.
Several manuals of Prakrit prosody have defined, described and illustrated Dhavala.1 The information they give obviously derives from a common source, granting that there is some difference in details. All the manuals treat Dhavala under the Apabhramsa section and all the illustrations of the Dhavala are in Apabhramsa. This indicates that these Prakrit prosodists knew Dhavala as a characteristically Apabhraíśa composition-type. The following account is based on Sch., Chs., Ch., Chk. and KD.
The Dhavala composition is so called because it characteristically describes some eminent person under the guise of or in. terms of dhavala, i.e. "a white bull of excellent breed". This means that Dhavalas are Anyoktis (symbols of the person who is described, metaphorical poems) in respect of their thematic structure.
Secondly a Dhavala can be eight-lined, six-lined or four-lined.. The structure and names of the varieties are as follows:
The eight-lined Dhavala
Structure (1) a,c : 4+4+4 + 2 Mātrās
Name:
Source Sch. IV 17 Ch. V 34
b, d, f, h : 4 + 4 + 4 e, g, : 4 + 4 + 3 (or f, h : 4+4 + 2)
Ché. 22 Ch. V 34 Ch. V 33 (borrowed at Chk. !I 34)
Yasodhavala Śridhavala
(2) a, c, e, g, : 4 + 4 + 4 + 2
b, d, f, h : 4+4+4 (odd lines rhyming with even lines)
Name
The six-lined Dhavala
Structure (1) a, d : 6 + 6 + 6
b, e: 6 + 6 c, f: 6 + 6 + 4 or 5
Source Sch. IV 18