Sambodhi 1981 Vol 10

SR No.: 520760
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Dalsukh Malvania, H C Bhayani, Nagin J Shah
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad
Publication Year: 1981
Total Pages: 340
Language: English, Sanskrit, Prakrit, Gujarati
Classification: Magazine, India_Sambodhi, & India
File Size: 8 MB

Page 165

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Prakrit Poetry and Sanskrit Poetics "By its very nature (even without the help of a suggested sense), the purely denoted sense is inexhaustible because of differences of circumstance, place, time, etc." Though assiduously written about by thousands of thousands of (poets similar to) Vācaspati, the subject-matter, cannot be exhausted any more than the prakrti (primordial matter) of the universe." (3)
Here now are the gathās from Vākpati's Gaud avaho that must have influenced the author of Dhvanyaloka in writing the Karikās cited above :
Earlier poets through the virtue of their times (i. e. because they were born in ancient times) were able to wander on virgin paths but some others (i. e. modern poets) are guided on difficult paths in imitation of the genius of the earlier poets."(44)
"It is true that there is nothing that has not been seen on the well-trodden paths of poetry. But actually this is true for only the very beginnings of the path. All else is new " 45) "Glorious is the poet's speech pulsating with inspiration ! Though every day great poets have drained its essence from the beginning of creation yet it still seems as if its seal remains unbroken-in tact (i. e. its riches have barely been tapped."(6)
Again, Anandavirdhana's discussion about Prakrtyaucitya (propriety in relation to the nature of characters) which is divided into propriety relating to high, middle and low characters as well as propriety relating to divya (divine), mānuşa (human) and divya-mānuşa characters strongly reminds us of the threefold katha (story): divyā, divya-mānuşi and mânuşi spoken of by the author of Lilavai(47). Further, Anandavardhana's specific reference to Satavahana's superhuman exploit of going to the netherworld of ridgas which has been described in Lilāvai indicates that he knew this Prakrit woik and has utilised it in the context of describing Prakrti-aucitya:48) The whole discussion would show how the Prakrit works Setubandha, Gaudavaho and Lilavai have greatly influenced Anandavardhana, the greatest writer on Sanskrit Poetics.
(5) A Few Illustrative Verses : It is extremely difficult, almost impossible to select only a few of the exquisitely beautiful verses cited by the alamkārikas. But as there is no alternative I do so with great diffidence.
Gāthāsaptasati: This anthology is highly popular with the writers on Sanskrit poetics beginning with Anandavardhana. It is, however,
the author of Sarasvatikanthabharana and Singarapraktsa, who freely · quotes the glas from this anthology by hundreds. We may refer here to only a few of the quotations :
The maiden in love begs the moon to touch her with the rays which have touched her lover.(49) Another maiden begs of night to stay for ever