Prakrit Verses in Sanskrit Works on Poetics Part 02

Author(s): V M Kulkarni
Publisher: B L Institute of Indology

Page 52

Prakrit Verses in Sanskrit Works on Poetics
Bhāmaha's Kávyālamkāra, Dandi's Kavyadarśa, etc., they clearly state the fact of the existence of Prakrit literature along with Sanskrit and Apabhramsa literature. The absence of Prakrit quotations in their works is due to the practice of composing their own examples instead of quoting examples from the works of other authors. The few Prakrit examples we come across in Rudrata are his own compositions. The fact that over two thousand and eight hundred verses from Prakrit works are cited by later alaskārikas beginning with Anandavardhana is a clear and definite proof of the great influence of Prakrit poetry.
Of all the writers on Sanskrit Poetics it is Anandavardhana who is considerably influenced by the Setubandha and the Gaüdavaho. He and Kuntaka, the author of Vakroktījīvita, frequently use the expression bandhacchāyā (beauty of composition) in expounding their poetical theories. 66 Anandavardhana refers to the objectives of 'bandha-chāyā' and 'ahinavā atthagai' (Sk abhinavā arthagatiḥ, a new range of meaning or the novelty of ideas) mentioned by Pravarasena in his. Setubandha in almost identical language :
"Novelty of ideas as well as great beauty of composition is achieved by adopting a single sentiment as predominant in any poem as a whole."67 Vākpati, taking his cue from Pravarasena, also speaks of new ideas and beauty of composition in his Gaüdavaho 68 before Anandavardhana :
"It is only in Prakrit that we shall have in abundant measure, till (the end) of the world's duration, a presentation of ever fresh themes and a rich variety of
66) अभिनवा पूर्वैरनुक्ता अर्थगति: अभिधेयपद्धति: बन्धच्छायया कृच्छ्रात् संदर्भशोभया दुःखं संपाद्यते । Krsnavipra
on Setu 1.11 ("'It is hard to combine new ideas (lit. a new range of meaning) with beauty of composition.") And, if KITEIT Srlu antet for not farefcrat wala Cour a HESH river gat
Dhvanyāloka IV. 5-6 67) See foot-note (14) supra. 68) Gaüdavaho was composed probably about A.D. 736. The period of
Anandavardhana's literary activity lies between 860-890 A.D.