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THE POETIC EMBELLISHMENT
The Concept of Poetic Embellishment
Hemachandra devotes two chapters (K.A.S. V-VI) to the treatment of the poetic embellishments. Looking back, we find that in his definition of poetry (1. 11), our author has mentioned the poetic embellishments - both of the word and the sense as belonging to the body poetic. He has also determined the general nature of these embellishments so as to bring them into an effective relationship with Rasa in subsequent discussions. And following Ānandavardhana and Mammata, Hemachandra has clarified that the poetic embellishments or Alaṁkāras dwell in the body poetic (Angāśritā alamkārāḥ : 1. 13) and help the Rasa through the word and the sense, if Rasa exists; if Rasa does not exist, they simply serve poetry as 'turns of speech'. Secondly, in order that they help the development of Rasa (and that is the raison' d'etre of their presence in a poem), according to Hemachandra, the Alamkāras should be employed with great discrimination and judgement. To put it more simply, the Alaskāras should be always ancillary to the Rasa, helping the readers to enjoy the Rasa in full. They should never try to ride roughshod over the emotional element in a poem (I. 14). They should be employed according to the context and the poet should exercise the utmost care in choosing and using, or even rejecting sometimes, the poetic embellishments. That is where the skill of the poet is tested. Normally,
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