Studies In Sanskrit Sahitya Shastra

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

Page 31

SANSKRIT RHETORICIANS ON POETIC CONVENTIONS
The Sanskrit dictum 'Nirankuśāḥ Kavayaḥ' is not wholly true. Sanskrit writers on poetics rightly set down as faults such descriptions as are opposed to geography, seasons, fine arts, natural facts, Šāstras (to wit, Sānkhya, Vedānta, Saugata), Sruti, Smộti, and so on, in other words, descriptions which are entirely fantastic or nonsensical." To put it in modern language, the Sanskrit theorists are not disposed to grant license of scientific ignorance or wanton inaccuracy to the poet in his discription of objective reality (and subjective experience). They insist, on the contrary, that the poet's touch. of imagination and feeling upon the outer world should never misrepresent or distort it. Poetry that is wrought out at the expense of fact, truly deserves condemnation. They, however, willingly concede that this opposition to natural fact .etc., by virtue of the poetic skill, ceases to be a fault when it adds to poetic beauty or heightens a sentiment.2 Thus if a poet were to describe that a lover overpowered with pangs of separation from his love regards fire cooler than the lunar rays, it cannot be called a fault. As the rays of the moon torment a lover who is separated from his beloved, such description is termed as excellence. This discussion regarding poetic truth naturally leads one to expect from the theorists the treatment of the topic of poetic conventions. But curiously enough, all the theorists before
1. Cf. FILMASIDIFTINHTIE I
प्रतिज्ञाहेतुदृष्टान्तहीनं दुष्टं च नेष्यते ॥ Bhāmaha IV. 2
Daņdin repeats in his Kávyādarśa the line agres 1917... ... etc. According to Kane, · Dandirr is earlier than Bhāmaha. It is interesting to note that Svayambhudeva, the author of Paumacariu, an Apabhramsa epic, whose date falls between A.D. 677 and 960 refers to these two Alamkärikas as follows:
073 glas föres-97916 013 76-af-37016 | I. 3.8
The order in which the poet mentions the two Alamkārikas perhaps suggests that according to the poet, Bhāmaha was earlier than Dandin. For examples of the various Virodhas see
Daņdin III. v. 165-178. 2. faila: sistema framfara afaAIDISITI
Jott Januai Tureffet famed 11-Kāvyādarśa III. 179. For illustration of f ater See VV. 180-185.
3
The topic of Sanskrit Rhetoricians on Poetic Truth is dealt with in a separate paper.