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Introduction
21
(iii) In his task of writing a work, Deveśvara depends upon innumerable works of omfatter and poetic compositions of the best of poets.
Here, Deveśvara refers to his very difficult task and his own equipment when he writes this work. One very important fact is his acceptance of the very great importance of Pratibhã and at the same time, his acceptance that in rare cases, without Pratibhā also clever poetic composition is possible35. He claims to compose his work for the guidance and benefit of both. At several places in the work he begins by referring to the topic that he is discussing, unlike Amara Candra.
In his rather long summing up, Deveśvara makes the following important statements :
(iv) He has written the work, not through pride or with a desire to win fame, but simply to satisfy the genuine curiosity of those who desire to compose poetry and to scale higher and higher heights of success in their sphere.
(v) With the study of the work of Deveśvara, and the guidance that it gives, the speech and poetry of poets would definitely grow sweeter, more charming, more effective and greatly respected.
(vi) If poets use words and speech, potent and sweet like the milk of Kāmadhenu; words which are tinkling and musical and will certainly command respect in the assemblies of the learned by their nectar-like poetry.
(vii) Good poets should study of faciecial for enriching their poetry in all respects. They should know fully well that everything except poetry is mortal and every good poet is expected to make conscious effort to scale the unique heights of immortality.
Let us now turn to the other topics which are not glaringly under the influence of Amara Candra and examine Deveśvara's contribution to the subject.
As we proceed with 2.3 (estufa ), where some verses are common to those in Amara, the treatment is systematic and to the point and deals with some six topics in which illustrative variants of descriptions are given. It throws light on the wide scope that a poet would have in his descriptions and it hints at the extreme variety of things to be described. Here also, he gives fine illustrative samples of descriptions in the latter half with the examples of Yuf, aufi, 3441, hauri etc.
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