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SAHṚDAYĀLOKA We will unfold our discussion, topic by topic. Before we do this I feel like thanking some modern alamkarikas such as Dr. P. V. Kane, Dr. S. K. De, Dr. Rama Ranjan Mukhurjee, Dr. V. Raghavan, Dr. K. Krishnamoorthy, Dr. K. Kunjunni Raja, Pandit Visvesvarajee, Dr. Rewaprasad Dwivedi, Dr. Mukunda Madhav Sharma, and Dr. Pratap Bandopadhyay through whose works I have drawn inspiration and also my gurus, Prof. Rasiklal Parikh, Dr. V. M. Kulkarni and Prof. R. B. Athavale whose guidance and blessings are always with me and whose outstanding contributions in the field of Sanskrit literary criticism has left me richer, and last, but not the least, some of my great friends such as the late Dr. Ram Chandra Dwivedi (Jaipur), Dr. Biswanath Bhattacharya (Shanti Niketan), Dr. Rewaprasad Dwivedi (varanasi), and Dr. N. P. Unni (Kerala), Dr. Radhavallabh Tripathi, Dr. Rajendra Nanavati and Dr. S. P. Narang (Delhi). I have always gained with direct or indirect encounters with them. As noted by Abhinavagupta, originality in scientific investigation lies in giving newer and newer dimension, giving newer and newer design to the finding of the earlier masters. Our effort also will be in the direction of providing fresh approach and fresh interpretation to the material collected.
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The concepts of literary criticism which will be examined by us will follow the sequence as given in the contents at the beginning of this book. We directed our efforts in Gujarati language in the three editions of our book entitled. "Bhāratīya Sahityaśāstrani Vicara-parmparão" (Pub. Uni. Book Production Board, Guj. State) wherein each newer edition had something treated more elaborately and the effort was fresher every time. But the present work is not a mere translation of the original. In all humility we claim it to be a rare transformation, a re-creation, a rebirth so to say, of the thinking carried out in a span of more than five decades. We have embarked upon a new adventure so to say, a new journey. We feel we have scaled greater heights then ever, to the best of our capacity, as we have attempted expansion and eluciation of basic ideas and have seriously contemplated upon the conclusions drawn by such all time greats as even Dr. V. Raghavan, on certain points, and have also ventured to differ from them.
DEFINITION AND SCOPE OF POETRY:
Thus, to begin with, the definition of poetry, the wider concept of poetry as visualized by the masters, its wider scope, the cause and purpose or object of poetry, will be taken up first for our detailed investigation. While treating this or any other topic concerning a given aspect of literary criticism, we will begin with Bhamaha and take up almost all major critics down to Jagannatha and will try to underline
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