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VAISHALI INSTITUTE RESEARCH BULLETIN NO. 2
Knowledge of grammar, vocabulary and prosody will be preparatory equipments for the poet, the legends will be his sources, logic will help him keep on the right track, knowledge of life and the Kalas will both guide him in his composition and provide 'Artha' for it, perusal of the works of other poets will endow him with a sense of tradition.
Vámana also says that it is necessary for a poet to be acquainted with life (Loka) and various branches of learning (Vidyā) such as grammar, vocabulary, prosody, arts, erotics and statecraft. He also prescribes that the poet should go through the works of other poets.' But he primarily looks at all these as preparatory equipments or at best as guides for the poet. The question that the poet's experience and his knowledge are at the same time his sources also has not been raised by Vamana. Nor Bhamaha has done it explicitly, but there is nothing to prevent the inference that he means both the preparatory and the feeder aspects of knowledge. Besides at (5-4) he says that there is not such a word, such an idea, such a thinking or such a vocation as cannot find a place in poetry.
Rajasekhara deals with the two aspects separately. In treating it as a Kavyahetu, he takes up the preparatory aspect of knowledge and elaborates its feeder aspect in treating various branches of knowledge as sources of 'Artha' for the poet.
Validity of appearance in Poetry
Rajasekhara quotes the opinions of Udbhața and his followers that the Arthas may be either well thought out and established fact' or not well thought out, only apparent, but charming."
Rajasekhara is not going to put any discount upon an idea for its being only apparent and not real, provided it is generally acceptable to our feelings; the moon will continue to be lovely in spite of the scientist's discovery of craters and dust-storms upon her face.
Passivity of Arthas
He agrees with Aparājitio that the poet should not put down anything that does not at least tend to arouse one or the other sentiment: But the view that certain Arthas like amorous sport in a swimming pool.
1. Kavyals 1, 3, (1-12). 2. fara 4. aerea vita,
3. fazifa yat, 5. TESTE
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