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THE CONCEPTION AND TREATMENT OF POETIC BLEMISHES
The Notion of Poetic Blemish or Doṣa
The topic of Poetic Blemishes or Dosas is regarded as an important topic in all works on Poetics. Hemachandra has defined Poetry as consisting of words and meanings without faults or blemishes, with excellences and with or without figures of speech. From this definition of Poetry, it can be seen that, amongst the characteristics of a poem, that which stands first in order and importance is "faultessness". This feature preponderates over all the others. The conspicuous position accorded to "faultlessness" of word and sense is due to the fact that a poem possessing even a multitude of excellences and figures of speech fails to charm us if vitiated by a single blemish; just as a body of woman, even though possessed of great beauty, does not attract us, if infected with a single spot of leprosy, as Daṇḍian puts it. But it is possible on the other hand, to desire some pleasure at least, from a poem that is untainted by a single fault even though not possessing any excellence or ornaments. In fact, in case of a poem, "freedom from blemishes" in itself constitutes an excellence (Guṇa).
Hemachandra's Detailed Exposition of Doșas
Hemachandra has already given a general definition of Dosa (blemish) as being detrimental to Rasa. Hence, he undertakes a detailed exposition of the concept of Poetic
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