Studies In Sanskrit Sahitya Shastra

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

Page 18

Studies in
the verse or of one quarter from one half and of another from the other half constitutes plagiarism. If a later poet adopts an earlier verse after changing a quarter, which serves to change the idea completely it is not adaptation but plagiarism of three quarters from a former poet. When, however, three quarters (having different meaning, i.e.) that are apparently unconnected are appropriately connected with one quarter of his by a later poet, we call that stanza original.13 If a later poet substitutes some words in a quarter of an earlier stanza keeping the rest in tact, it is surely plagiarism. This is also the case if the later poet introduces slight changes only in parts of words, keeping the rest as it is. If a later poet intèrprets a verse of a former poet in an altogether different way, it also is called plagiarism for the earlier poet has had in mind both the senses. If one claims on the basis of one or the other circumstance mentioned above that a particular stanza or poem is his own, though really it is not original then it is the worst kind of plagiarism. This applies to both a 'muktaka' (a detached stanza, the meaning of which is complete in itself ) and a prabandha (a literary work). If one gets works written for money and passes them off as his own, that too is nothing but plagiarism. It is better if one fails to win fame than to incur ignominy. 14 'Borrowing of 'uktis' (expressions) too is plagiarism'this is the view of his Acārya. 'Expressions that are, however, made to convery a different sense are not detected as borrowed but appreciated; if they are, on the contrary used in the same sense, they deserve to be condemned as the worst kind of plagiarism--this is the view of Rajasekhara.
Rājasekhara sums up the discussion thus : "there is no poet that is not a theif, no merchant that does not cheat, but he flourishes without reproach who knows how to hide his theft1o. One poet is a creator "Utpadaka', another an adapter 'Parivartaka', another a coverer up 'Acchādaka', another a collector 'Samvargaka'. He who here sees something new in word, sense, phrase and writes up something old may be accounted a great poet."
"In the poet's province there is hardly anything left untouched by ancient poets. A modern poet should, therefore, endeavour to better what the ancients have said”-this is the view of his Acārya. Vākpati, however, disagrecs with him16. Then he refers to some views of some people about a careful study of the early poetical works on the part of a poet. One view is that the great have similarities of poetic genius and temper and present identical thoughts!?; to avoid such coincidences or
13. This means a kind of Samasyäpürana. 14. मूल्यक्रयोऽपि हरणमेव । वरमप्राप्तियशसो न पुनर्दुर्यशः । 15. HIRUENT: a a afort: स नन्दति विना वाच्य यो जानाति निगुहितुम् ॥
Cf. This poet is that poet's plagiary
And he a third's till they all end in Homer'. Harpax in Albumazar. 16. His view is already mentioned above. Rājasekhara here translated his Prakrit verse No. 87.
into Sanskrit with a few unimportant changes. 17. RAHI RE fra 67: 1-this is after Anandavardhana.