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Alamkaras mentioned by Vamana

by Pratim Bhattacharya | 2016 | 65,462 words

This page relates ‘Definition of Atishayokti Alamkara� of the study on Alamkaras (‘figure of speech�) mentioned by Vamana in his Kavyalankara-sutra Vritti, a treatise dealing with the ancient Indian science of Rhetoric and Poetic elements. Vamana flourished in the 8th century and defined thirty-one varieties of Alamkara (lit. “anything which beautifies a Kavya or poetic composition�)

Go directly to: Footnotes.

10: Definition of پśǰپ Alaṃkāra

پśǰپ is one of the most famous ٳṃk in Sanskrit Poetics. The etymological meaning of the word پśǰپ is a heightened or hyperbolic mode of expression. treats this figure in accordance with this view and also gives it great importance as an ٳṃk.

His definition of the figure is�

nimittato vaco yattu lokātikrāntagocaram/
manyate'tiśayokti� tāmṃktayāyathā//

&Բ;&Բ;�屹ṃk (of 峾) 2.81.

—A statement with a reason surpasses the ordinary or common perception of people is called پśǰپ.

峾 regards that all poetic descriptions contain پśǰپ as far as possible�

sarvaivātiśayoktistu tarkayettā� yathāgamam/
&Բ;&Բ;—屹ṃk (of 峾) 2.84.

峾 recognises vakrokti as identical with پśǰپ and maintains that this peculiar method of statement which renders beauty and charm to the meaning of a poem can be found in each and every ṃk

saiṣāsarvaiva vakroktiranayārtho vibhāvyate/
yatno'syā� kakārya� ko'laṃkāro'nayā//

&Բ;&Բ;—屹ṃk (of 峾) 2.85.

Kuntaka acknowledges 峾 in this regard�

ucyate'tiśayokti� sāsarvālaṃkāraīٲm/
&Բ;&Բ;—Vakrokti-īٲ (of Kuntaka) 3.33.

ٲṇḍ also recognises پśǰپ as the best of ṃks.

He regards the figure as an expression of a particular thing which surpasses the limits of day-to-day usage�

vivakṣāyāśṣasya lokasīmātivartinī/
asāvپśǰپ� syāt alaṃkārottamāyathā//

&Բ;&Բ;—Kāvyādarśa (of ٲṇḍ) 2.214.

ٲṇḍ also asserts that this figure is honoured by all masters of speech as the ultimate figure�

alaṃkārāntarāṇāmapyekamāhu� parāyaṇam/
岵īś󾱳峾ܰپ峾پś󱹲峾//

&Բ;&Բ;—Kāvyādarśa (of ٲṇḍ) 2.220.

The same notion about the figure has been adopted by Hemacandra.

He even includes figures like 峾Բⲹ, īٲ, 屹ī, Ծ岹ś and śṣa in the broad sphere of پśǰپ

evaṃvidha� ca sarvatra viṣaye'tiśayoktireva prāṇatvenāvatiṣṭhate / tā� prāyeṇālaṅkaraṇatvāyogāditi na 峾ԲⲹīٲikāvalīԾ岹śviśeṣādyalaṅkDZ貹nyāsa� śreyān /
&Բ;&Բ;—Kāvyānuśāsana (of Hemacandra) 6.11. ṛtپ.

ṭa has followed the definition of 峾 very closely[1] while Bhoja quotes the definition of ٲṇḍ in verbatim. He also quotes another verse of ٲṇḍ (Kāvyādarśa (of ٲṇḍ) 2.220.) to emphasise the importance of the figure. Bhoja further adds that this figure involves only ṇa and and not dravyas and پ[2] .

峾Բ has also defined پśǰپ in a general and broad sense�

ṃb屹ⲹ󲹰ٲٰܳ첹ṣa첹貹پśǰپ�/
&Բ;&Բ;—屹ṃksūtraṛtپ (of 峾Բ) 4.3.10.

—When an assumption of some imaginary property or superior excellence of property is made, the figure is called پśǰپ.

He illustrates the figure as�

ubhau yadi vyomni ṛt󲹰 patetāmākāśagaṅgāpayasa� pravāhau/
tenopamīyate tamālanīlamāmuktamuktālatamasya ṣa�//

  —屹ṃksūtraṛtپ (of 峾Բ) 4.3.10. ṛtپ.

—If in the sky there could appear two concurrent streams of the celestial Ganges, then that could be compared to his blue chest embellished with the pearl necklace.

Here the imaginary concurrent streams of the celestial Ganges have been assumed as property with the specific purpose of indicating that nothing existing can be regarded as similar to the object compared (the chest). The whole process thus points out the supreme excellence of the chest.

The 峾Գ commentator has clearly explained the existence of the first type of پśǰپ (پśǰپ by means of ṃb屹ⲹ󲹰첹貹) in this verse�

yadi ٲٳ屹� vyoma sambhāvyeta tadevāmuktamuktāphalasy a vakṣasa
ܱ貹Բ� bhavet na punaranyat kiñcidityپśⲹsyokterپśǰپ�/

  �峾Գ, 屹ṃksūtraṛtپ (of 峾Բ) 4.3.10.

The example of the second type of پśǰپ (پśǰپ by means of ٰܳ첹ṣa첹貹) is as follows�

ⲹᲹٲٲٲԳܲԲ屹ūṣi�
sitataradantapatrakṛtavaktraruco rucirāmalāṃśukā�/
śaśabhṛtivitatadhāmni dhavalayati dharāmavibhāvyatā� gatā�
priyavasati� prayānti sukhameva nirastabhiyo'bhisārikā�//

  —屹ṃksūtraṛtپ (of 峾Բ) 4.3.10.

—The bright shining moon-light has whitened the earth and thus the lovely ladies with their bodies covered with sandal-paint, necks shining with pearl necklaces, faces glowing with white teeth and who are wearing white cloths are going to meet their lovers with joy and fearlessness.

Here the superior excellence of the fair complexion of women rendered by sandal-paint etc. has been assumed. The fairness of the women is of such superior excellence that they are not being recognised in the white moon-light.

The 峾Գ commentator thus asserts�

malayajarasanavahāralatādīnā� dhāvalyasyotkarṣo'tiśaya� kalpyate/
yāvatā candrikāyā� tadvivecanākṣamatva� cakṣusoriti/

  �峾Գ. 屹ṃksūtraṛtپ (of 峾Բ) 4.3.10.

Ѳṭa regards this verse as an example of the figure 峾Բⲹ (屹ⲹ-ś 10.202, ṛtپ).

Vagbhata II[3] has also defined the figure پśǰپ in its general etymological sense. ܻṭa does not regard پśⲹ as an individual figure but rather treats it as a broad rhetorical parameter under which he has brought twelve figures (Kāvyṃk (of Rudraṭ�) 9.1-2.). Later rhetoricians have advocated ⲹⲹ or ⲹԲ as an essential feature of the figure. Ѳṭa is probably the first rhetorician to introduce the concept. He uses the word �ⲹԲ� in the definition of the first kind of پśǰپ[4] . According to him, the ⲹԲ means the swallowing up of the upameya by the ܱ貹Բ[5] . This ⲹԲ is an extreme state of superimposition. It is different from ordinary DZ貹 or imposition where the two objects compared are allowed to retain their distinct nature. But in ⲹԲ, the upameya is completely dominated by the ܱ貹Բ.

Ruyyaka classifies ⲹⲹ into two types� and siddha.  In the ⲹ ⲹⲹ the process of swallowing up of the upameya by the ܱ貹Բ does not reach its final or settled point. The action or quality which is the basis of this process seems to be continuing in the case of ⲹ ⲹⲹ. But in siddha ⲹⲹ, the process of absorption of the upameya by the ܱ貹Բ is completed and finally settled[6] . The ⲹ ⲹⲹ is the basic feature of the figure ܳٱṣ� while the siddha ⲹⲹ is the basis of the figure پśǰپ. Ruyyaka clearly states that in پśǰپ the upameya or ṣaⲹ must be submerged by the ܱ貹Բ or ṣaī and it should not have any prominent role in the figure[7] .

As far as determining the sub -divisions or varieties of the figure are concerned, 峾 and ٲṇḍ have made no attempts in this regard. 峾Բ, as mentioned earlier, has put forth two basic varieties of the figure based on ṃb屹ⲹ󲹰첹貹 and ٰܳ첹ṣa첹貹 respectively.

ṭa is the first rhetorician to classify the figure into four types�

i) bhede'nanyatvam (imposing similarity where there is difference in reality),

ii) anyatra ٱ (imagining difference where there is sameness in reality),

iii) ṃb屹ⲹٳ󲹲ԾԻ� (describing a thing which is really impossible),

iv) kāryakāraṇayo� paurvāparyaviparyayat yatra āśubhāva� samālambya badhyate (the reversal of cause and effect in order to show the promptness of effect)[8] .

Ѳṭa has also furnished four varieties of the figure in a much more precise manner[9] . The first two varieties of the figure mentioned by ṭa can be included in the second variety of the figure admitted by Ѳṭa while the third and fourth variet ies correspond to the same varieties of Mammaṭ�. Ruyyaka has widened the sphere of ⲹⲹ by defining the figure پśǰپ in terms of ⲹⲹ. He furnishes five varieties of the figure[10] and puts forth ⲹⲹ as common feature in all of them.

վ󲹰 (Ekāvalī (of վ󲹰) 8.13 & 8.37.), վٳ (Pratāparudrayaśobhūṣaṇa (of վٳ) Chapter-VIII, p-396.) and վśٳ (10.46.) have followed the foot-steps of Ruyyaka in the treatment of the figure. Hemcandra, though admitting some of the popular varieties of the figure, has omitted ⲹⲹ as an essential feature of it[11] . Բٳ replaces the word ⲹⲹ with پśⲹ in his definition of the figure[12] . He thus combines the etymological approach relating to the figure پśǰپ of ancient rhetoricians and the relatively newer concept of ⲹⲹ in his treatment of the figure.

Bhoja mentions several variations of the figure like:

  1. 󲹳ٳٱپśⲹ,
  2. ٲԳܳٱپśⲹ,
  3. Գٲپśⲹ,
  4. 屹پśⲹ and
  5. Գܲ屹پśⲹ.

And illustrates a few of them with the example verses furnished by ٲṇḍ as examples of the figure.

Jayadeva and Appayya Dīkṣīta put forth six varieties of the figure�

  1. پśǰپ,
  2. ٲⲹԳپśǰپ,
  3. 貹پśǰپ,
  4. Իپśǰپ,
  5. 岹پśǰپ and
  6. ū貹پśǰپ.

[Cf. 䲹Իǰ첹 (of Jayadeva) 5.41-46 & Kuvalayānanda (of Appayyadīkṣīta) 36-43]

From the different doctrines of Sanskrit rhetoricians we can sketch out the following general features of the figure پśǰپ

i) پśǰپ is basically a heightened or hyperbolic mode of expression.

ii) It surpasses the ordinary or common perception of people and thus can be regarded as the very foundation of all figures of speech.

iii) Rhetoricians like Mammaṭāhave advocated ⲹⲹ or ⲹԲ as an essential feature of the figure.

iv) This ⲹԲ means the swallowing up of the upameya by the ܱ貹Բ.

v) Several varieties of the figure have been mentioned by Sanskrit rhetoricians.

峾Բ has treated the figure پśǰپ in accordance to his predecessors 峾 and ٲṇḍ but he has not rendered such great importance to the figure as his predecessors have. Again, he gives a two -fold sub-division of the figure which has probably helped later rhetoricians like Mammaṭāand Ruyyaka to develop several varieties of the figure.

Footnotes and references:

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[1]:

nimittato yattu vaco lokātikrāntagocaram/
manyate'tiśayokti� tāmṃktayābudhā� //

&Բ;&Բ;—屹ṃksārasaṃgraha (of Udbhaṭ�) 2.11.

[2]:

sāca prāyo guṇānā� ca kriyānā� copakalpyate/
na hi dravyasya jātervābhavatyپśⲹ� kvacit//

&Բ;&Բ;�ī-첹ṇṭ󲹰ṇa (of Bhoja) 4.82.

[3]:

atyuktirپśǰپ�/
&Բ;&Բ;—Kāvyānuśāsana (of Vāgbhaṭ� II) Chapter-III, p-37.

[4]:

nigīryādhyavasāna� tu prakṛtasya pareṇa yat/
&Բ;&Բ;—屹�-ś (of Ѳṭa) 10.153.

[5]:

upamānenāntarnīgirṇasyopameyasya yadⲹԲ� saikā/
&Բ;&Բ;—屹�-ś (of Ѳṭa) 10.153. ṛtپ.

[6]:

ṣaⲹnigaraṇenābhedapratipattirviṣayiṇo'dhyavasāya�/ sa ca dvividh-a�-ⲹ� siddhaśca / sādhyo yatra viṣayiṇo'satyatayāpratīti� / ... yasyāsatyatva� t asya satyatvapratītāvⲹⲹ� ⲹ� / ataśca vyāpāraprādhānya� siddho yatra viṣayiṇo vastuto'satyasyāpi satyatāpratīti�/
&Բ;&Բ;—Alaṃkārasarvasva (of Ruyyaka) p-56.

[7]:

ṣaⲹprādhānyamadhyavasāye naiva saṃbhavati / adhyavasitaprādhānyaivātiśayokti�/
&Բ;&Բ;—Alaṃkārasarvasva (of Ruyyaka) p-65.

[8]:

bhedenanyatvamanyatra nānātva� yatra badhyate/
ٲٳ󲹱ⲹٳ󲹲ԾԻ'پśǰپī�//
kāryakāraṇayoryatra paurvāparyaviparyayāt/
āśubhāva� samālambya badhyate so'pi ū//

&Բ;&Բ;—屹ṃksārasaṃgraha (of Udbhaṭ�) 2.12-13.

[9]:

nigīryādhyavasāna� tu prakṛtasya pareṇa yat/
prastutasya yadanyatva� yadyarthoktau ca kalpanam//
kāryakāraṇayośca paurvāparyaviparyaya�/
vijñeyātiśayokti� sā//

&Բ;&Բ;—屹�-ś (of Ѳṭa) 10.153.

[10]:

ś 貹ñ �-'岹�/abhede 岹� / saṃbandhe'ṃbԻ�/ asaṃbandhe ṃbԻ� / kāryakāraṇapaurvāparyavidhvaṃsaśca/
&Բ;&Բ;—Alaṃkārasarvasva (of Ruyyaka) pp-65-66.

[11]:

śṣavivakṣaya bhedābhedayogāyogavyatyayo'tiśayokti�/
&Բ;&Բ;—Kāvyānuśāsana (of Hemacandra) 6.20.

[12]:

viṣayiṇa ṣaⲹsya nigaranamپśⲹ�/ tasyokti�/
&Բ;&Բ;�Rasa-ṅg󲹰 (of Բٳ) Chapter-II, p-307.

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