Studies In Sanskrit Sahitya Shastra

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

Page 13

SANSKRIT WRITERS ON. PLAGIARISM
In the interpretation of the masterpieces of poets it is necessary for a proper appreciation of their services to poetic art to trace parallels in the general cast, framework, modes of expression, diction and style and the germ, the spirit and the sentiments and the like, whether arising from direct imitation, unconscious reminiscence or similarity of temper and creative genius. Such an investigation raises the important and interesting problem of plagiarism. What do we mean by plagiarism ? What does originality mean? Is it indeed possible for later poets to strike out a thought or to coin a phrase, which shall be purely original ? Is plagiarism altogether to be condemned ? Has it possibly any merit ? Can one steal from the writings of others at discretion ? When does literary theft become a crime ? Who can commit literary picking and stealing with impunity ? These and such other kindred questions crowd on one's mind when one begins to think of plagiarism. It is the object of this paper to search thoroughly the works of eminent Sanskrit Alamkārikas with a view to finding their answers to such questions, to point out the obligations, if any, of later Alamkārikas to their predecessors in this matter and incidentally to compare their views with those of some celebrated Western writers.
The dictionary meaning of the word 'plagiarism' is : "an appropriation or copying from the work of another, in literature or art, and the passing off of the same as original"; and of the word 'original : "that has served as pattern, of which copy has been made, not derivative or dependent, first-hand, not imitative, novel in character or style, inventive; creative". Keeping in mind these meanings of the two vital words one may set one's hand to task. The author of the Mahābhārata proudly declares :
धर्मे चार्थे च कामे च मोक्षे च भरतर्षभ । - यदिहास्ति तदन्यत्र यन्नेहास्ति न कुत्रचित् ॥
- Parvan XVIII ch. 5. v. 50 Perhaps, this verse-especially the second hemistich-was responsible for the oftquoted saying : wallogg I Han l'There is nothing in the world that is untouched by Vyāsa'. Lovers of Bāna are fond of saying 'tong Na Hal Exaggeration apart, the suggestion is : there is hardly anything great that can have escaped observation of former writers.
Vākpatirāja, the author of Gaudavaho-a Prakrit epic (A. D. 760-725), however. boldly says :
"The ancient poets committed mistakes owing to the times in which they lived, when there were no beaten paths for them to follow whereas now many poets are led in vain to attempt difficult tasks executed by their predecessors. Where, it is asked, is there anything, indeed, previously unseen in the regions travelled by