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P. 7. A. 1. S. 8. ]
grammar prosody, lexicons, Vedas and other similar works, history, logic, dramaturgy, Erotics, Economics, Systems of Yoga and poems composed by great poets. This, then, is the staggering range of knowledge which--according to is to be traversed by a poet-aspirant! In his fa, quotes, in this refe
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rence, the following verse:
न स शब्दो न तद्वाच्यं न स न्यायो न सा कला । जायते यन्न काव्याङ्गमहो भारो गुरुः कवेः ॥
There is not a single word, or a thing or a clever adage or an art-that cannot be pressed into service for writing a poem. Infinitely heavy is the task of a poet !!
In his fa Hem. gives a host of illustrations as to how various poets have utilised, in their own poems, their knowledge of different arts, sciences and human nature. We do not, however, suppose that those poets were really proficient in those various arts and sciences as would have us believe. For instance, when the author of a describes the sleight-of-hand or इन्द्रजाल, it never means that the author was really adept in black art. Mere reference of an art does not prove proficiency in that particular art, for such references can be made even by laymen as well. The purport of. (in giving a series of illustrations), therefore, seems to be this that a poet should be a keen observer of men and things in this world and should press into his service the impressions of these things in his mind for enriching his composition.
There is another point in 's insistence on a poets' acquiring an insight into human nature and things in general. He says:-( affama etc.) if a
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