Kavyanushasana Critical Study

Author(s): A N Upadhye
Publisher: A N Upadhye

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of the ancient poets - these are the sources of poetry. After this, Rajasekhara prescribes a set of norms for the personal life and conduct of a budding poet as he is of the firm opinion that purity of conduct pleases the goddess of learning. 'Suciśilanam hi sarasvatyaḥ Samvananamamananti' (K.M.X.). Theory of Literature
Poetics proper begins with the next Sutra (I. 11). It embodies the definition of poetry. And this definition of poetry is the most important part of the first chapter-nay, of the whole of the present treatise or any other treatise on Poetics for that matter, since it is the kernel of the subject of poetics. And, as the author has already stated and explained at some length the aims of poetry, he now thinks it proper to define poetry itself.
The Definition of Poetry
Hemachandra defines poetry as "a combination of word and sense, free from faults, full of excellences, having in it figures of speech as well". In the gloss that follows, it is made clear that the word 'ca' appearing in the definition is intended to signify that poetry is possible, at times, even when it is devoid of a figure of speech. The commentary Viveka adds by way of elucidation that the phrase, Niralaṁkārayorapi in the gloss is intended to stress the point that poetic excellences are absolutely essential in poetry, inasmuch as speech, though devoid of embellishment, can be enjoyed if it is possessed of excellences or good qualities. This is to be illustrated by means of the well-known stanza from the Amaruśataka (82) in the body of the text etc. The verse depicts a love scene in which a bride in her private moments with her lover, who was pretending to be in sleep, slowly rises from her bed and after surveying his face at leisure, heartily kisses him; then, suddenly notices that his cheeks are thrilling with joy, she blushes and looks down, when her lover seizes the opportunity to kiss her lingeringly. Here in this verse, according to the
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