Sambodhi 1988 Vol 15

Author(s): Ramesh S Betai, Yajneshwar S Shastri
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 17

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In the same vein Hemicanda saya : "These vidyās (sciences or disciplines) are without a beginning; they become new from the point of view of abridgment (samksepa) and/or detailed description (or amplification vistāra) and are said to be composed by the concerned authors."3
Now, in Medieval India we find many writers of compendiums in alamkāra-śāstra. The Kāvyaprakāśa of Mammata, the most important and most popular work on poetics is a compendium. It epitomizes all the important theories of poetics that were developed before him. Topics which were treated by his predecessors in different works were for the first time brought together and systematised by him in this work. The orderly and concise treatment of the main issues of poetics mark off his compendium from other compendiums as a splendid and marvellous achievement. The fact, however, remains that it is a compendium only and that it does not present any new theory or doctrine of poetics.
Henacandra on the other hand treats of the topics of his predecessors elaborately presenting them as far as possible in their own form instead of summarising or paraphrasing or describing in his own language. His capacity to select choicest passages from his authorities and to organise them into a homogenous and organic whole is supreme. It is indeed surprising that such a scholarly, carefully designed and well organised work on poetics should have remained almost entirely unacknowledged.
Hemacandra's invaluable services
Hemacandra's Kāvyānuśāsana is one of the three authentic and most valuable sources for obtaining better or correct or original readings for scores and scores of passages in Abhinavabhārati, Dhvanyaloka-locana, Vakroktijivita, Sarasvatikanthābharana, Srngäraprakāśa, Bhāmaha-vivarana, etc., which have been judiciously used in its preparation. We may take up for consideration one of these source-books, utilised by Hemacandra, namely Abhinavabhārati. The text of the Abhinavabhārati, has been badly preserved in its manuscripts. The first editor of the text (The Nāt yaśāstra of Bharatamuni with the commentary Abhinavabhārati, Chs. I-VII ed, by M. Ramakrishna Kavi, second edn., Oriental Institute, Baroda, 1956, p. 63) remarked : "... even if Abhinavagupta descended from Heaven and saw the MSS, hc, would not easily restore his original readings." Hemacandra has preserved
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सूत्राणीत्येतदपि पर्यनुयश्व । अनादय एवैता विद्याः संक्षेप-विस्तर-विवक्षया नवनवीभवन्ति तत्तत्कत काश्चोच्यन्ते ।