The backdrop of the Srikanthacarita and the Mankhakosa
by Dhrubajit Sarma | 2015 | 94,519 words
This page relates “Sanskrit kavya and its definitions� as it appears in the case study regarding the Srikanthacarita and the Mankhakosa. The Shrikanthacarita was composed by Mankhaka, sometimes during A.D. 1136-1142. The Mankhakosa or the Anekarthakosa is a kosa text of homonymous words, composed by the same author.
Go directly to: Footnotes.
Part 1 - Sanskrit 屹ⲹ and its definitions
In the tradition of Sanskrit, the term 屹ⲹ is used in the sense of ٲⲹ and in the same way, the word kavi is applied to mean ٲ⾱첹 or writer. Therefore, the term 屹ⲹ stands for all that is the work of a poet.[1] In the world of 屹ⲹ, which is boundless and bare, kavi or writer, itself is the or the creator. The visible world can take the shape, according to the very desire of the poet. There is no geographical as well as political boundary in the realm of a kavi. Any work which is apparently impossible by means of money and man-power could be easily accomplished by way of kavikarma. So, it has been rightly appreciated by ĀԲԻ岹Բ.[2] Hence, the connotation of the word 屹ⲹ is very wide. Simply, poetry (屹ⲹ) is the spontaneous overflow of the powerful feelings, as written by William Wordsworth in the preface to his Lyrical Ballads.[3] That is why, the words oozing out from the heart of ī쾱, the Ādikavi, without any conscious effort are regarded as the first 屹ⲹ form of Indian literary tradition. That is once, when out in the forests, ī쾱 was moved by the killing of one of a love-lorn pair of birds by a hunter, leaving the female bird to lament the death of her mate and that feeling of pity manifested itself in the form of a melodious verse (śǰ첹).[4]
In the Sanskrit literature, the term kavi and 屹ⲹ are used side by side. One who writes, describes or knows is called a kavi and his work is termed as 屹ⲹ. Again, in the Śܰⲹܰ岹 (ŚY), the term kavi is used to denote the omniscient God.[5] According to the 岵ٲܰṇa (Bhp.), by tene hṛdā ya ādikavaye, the word 徱첹 means .[6] The term kavi stands for daityaguru Śܰ峦ⲹ in the ṣa (Amara.).[7] In the Ś岹첹貹ܳ (ŚKD), though the term kavi has been explained in various senses, it is used to denote the preceptor of the demonsalso.[8] Again, this term also refers to scholars in general.[9] In the ŚKD, the word kavi has been constituted by the root ku śabde with the suffix i by the aphorism ac i�.[10] However, the word kavi is used primarily to mean Ādikavi ī쾱[11] and sage ղ. The Ѳٲ (Mbh.) of ղ is counted under the category of 屹ⲹ and ղ himself established it.[12] In the explanation of a , վśٳ Ჹ by writing, “in this epic, as for example the Mbh.� accepted the Mbh. as mahā屹ⲹ in clear terms.[13] There is no divergence of opinion that these two epics viz. the 峾ⲹṇa (RM) and the Mbh. are the sources of all the successive poets, for their writings. The Ծܰṇa (AP., 33, 7/7, 331) is of the opinion that the assemblage of words (貹岹ū), blended with ṃk and ṇa, without fault is termed as 屹ⲹ and although there is importance of 쳦ٳܰⲹ (eloquence of speech), however rasa is the soul of poetry. Vāmanācārya also supports this, in his 屹ṃkūٰṛtپ (KSV.)[14] It may be mentioned here that վśٳ is the first poetician, who distinctly mentioned the AP as an authority on the poetics.
There are several definitions of 屹ⲹ available, right from Bharata upto վśٳ, where each one of them tries to establish their views.
Bharata:
While speaking about 屹ⲹ, Bharata gives emphasis upon rasa. According to Bharata, rasa is the most essential and indispensable element in a 屹ⲹ. He opines that no meaning is produced from the speech, without any kind of sentiment.[15] The basic principle of rasa or the sentiment in Indian poetics and aesthetics must have been developed for the first time in the ṭyśٰ (NŚ). The word rasa, primarily means ‘taste�. Just as different spices leave behind different tastes, sweet, sour or bitter, even so does the emotion (屹), represented on the stage, arouse in the mind of the audience, apt sentiments. From this theory of rasa or -ūٰ[16], originated the remarkable system of Indian aesthetics, as an inevitable offshoot from its psychological theory of emotions (屹s).
峾:
峾, gives other type of definition of 屹ⲹ. According to him, 屹ⲹ is the harmonious form of word and meaning.[17] In his definition of 屹ⲹ, 峾 accords equal status to ‘word� and ‘import�, though he has devoted more attention to the former.[18] 峾 is deemed to be the oldest extant exponent of the ṃk school of poetics. He opines that a 屹ⲹ should be without fault and blended with ṃks. He is also of the opinion that ṃk is the vital thing in a 屹ⲹ. From the 屹ṃk (KL), it is found that before 峾 also, there were discussions on poetics. Therefore, it is an undisputed fact that the practice of poetics was of a very much ancient origin.
ٲṇḍ:
ٲṇḍ, is of the opinion that 屹ⲹ is consisting of some meaningful words.[19] In his definition of poetry, ٲṇḍ gives more importance to the word-element than to the sense-element. Though ٲṇḍ is usually assigned to the 7th century A.D., still the relative priority of 峾 and ٲṇḍ is a disputed point in the history of Sanskrit poetics. ٲṇḍ appears to have been greatly influenced by the ṃk school. According to him, every poem needs to consist of a body and an embellishment. By the body of the poem is understood the set of words in a sentence, set so as to suit the desired meaning. This set of words is capable of being put either in a metrical (padya), non-metrical (gadya) or mixed (ś) style.[20]
峾Բ:
峾Բ, the propounder of the īپ school, establishes the essentiality of īپ in 屹ⲹ. 峾Բ declares that īپ is the soul of poetry.[21] According to 峾Բ, īپ or diction is the special arrangement of words and that speciality consists in harmonious combination of certain fixed ṇas or poetic excellences, which serve to embellish the poetry. In order to endow poetry with a soul, 峾Բ insists upon imparting speciality to the arrangement of words by employing ṇas or excellences to it. Again, 峾Բ treated the rasas as the essential features of the ṇas.22 峾Բ is the protagonist of the īپ school. In five chapters and twelve sections of the KSV, he boldly asserts that īپ or style is the essence of poetry. He opines that the ten ṇas are important so far as they constitute īپ. His KVS consists of a theoretical section on aesthetics and a practical segment on grammar.
ܻṭa:
ܻṭa, supported the view of 峾 regarding the definition of 屹ⲹ. He uses the term nanu, supporting thereby the opinion of 峾.[22] Therefore, he must be regarded as a representative of the ṃk school. Although he knew the rasa theory propounded by Bharata and though he said that 屹ⲹ must be endowed with rasa[23], still he looked upon ṃks as very important. It is a noticeable feature that he does not attach importance to the īپs, though he casually refers to them[24] and speaks of four īپs; the ṇas are not defined and illustrated by him.{GL_NOTE:137443:
ĀԲԻ岹Բ:
ĀԲԻ岹Բ, is of the opinion that dhvani or suggestiveness is the essence of poetry and on that basis, he discusses its relation to other poetic embellishments. ĀԲԻ岹Բ informs us that the doctrine of dhvani is very old, the dim beginnings of which are lost in oblivion. According to him, a word is not only endowed with the two powers of denotation (śپ) and implication (ṣaṇ�), but also with that of suggestion (ⲹñᲹԲ). Through the power of suggestion, either a subject, or a figure or a sentiment is revealed.
Abhinavagupta:
The views of ĀԲԻ岹Բ found a large and definite shape in the writings of his erudite commentator Abhinavagupta. Abhinavagupta has to his credit two important commentaries on poetics, which may be looked upon as independent treatises, and these are the Locana on the ٳԲǰ첹 (DL) of ĀԲԻ岹Բ and the Բī on the NŚ of Bharata. Abhinavagupta thought that all suggestion must be of sentiment, for the suggestion of subject or that of figure may be ultimately reduced to the suggestion of sentiment.[26]
Ჹś:
Ჹś gives the definition of 屹ⲹ in his 屹ⲹīṃs (KM).[27] It is a unique work, but it does not directly concern itself with the exposition of rasas, ṇas or ṃks and it is rather in the nature of practical handbook for the poets. In this valuable and interesting treatise on poetics, consisting of eighteen chapters, Ჹś describes in detail, as to how a i.e. assembly should be designed. In a fuller detail, he states things about poets and kings. The style of the work is vigorous and he quotes numerous verses from ancient authors. It has been seen that this work is a mine of information on numerous matters.
Kuntaka:
In his ղǰپīٲ (VJ), Kuntaka gives weightage on crooked speech or vakrokti. According to him, vakrokti is the only thing for the creation of 屹ⲹ. Vakrokti is a striking mode of speech[28], differing from and transcending the ordinary everyday mode of speaking about a thing (and hence called vakrokti);it is the speech that charms by the skill of the poet. According to Kuntaka, vakrokti is the soul of poetry i.e. it is vakrokti that breathes life into poetry, makes it poetry and without it 屹ⲹ cannot exist. But vakrokti itself is not capable, unless the poet possesses the necessary fancy and imagination, therefore, 첹 is Բ in 屹ⲹ.[29] The VJ denies the independent existence of dhvani or ⲹṅgⲹ as the soul of poetry and tries to include it under its all pervading vakrokti. The emphasis is mainly laid by Kuntaka on 첹 and secondarily on aesthetic pleasure that the man of taste enjoys from poetry or drama.
Ѳṭṭ:
Ѳṭṭ does not dispute that the soul of poetry is rasa.[30] He admits the necessity of the sentiment. Ѳṭṭ wrote the work for demolishing the theory of dhvani.[31] He contradicts the position of the DL that there is a third function of words called ⲹñᲹ (besides and ṣaṇ�) and that suggested sense is conveyed by this process. His own position is that words have a single power e.g. , the suggested sense e.g. īⲹٳ is conveyed by the expressed sense, through the process of inference (ԳܳԲ) and that word and sense are not ⲹñᲹ첹.[32] Ѳṭṭ also criticizes the theory of Kuntaka and refutes his doctrine that the merit of poetry is felicitous expression.[33]
Bhoja:
Bhoja, defines 屹ⲹ in his ī첹ṇṭṇa (SKB) and Śṛṅś (Śṛp.) In the Śṛp., it is found that poetry consists of word and meaning, which was also the view of 峾. The sense is that word and meaning, both jointly constitute poetry. The Śṛp is a very voluminous work, larger than any work on Sanskrit poetics. It deals with both poetics and dramaturgy, like the SD.[34] In SKB, in five long chapters, Bhoja discusses the merits and demerits of poetry, the figures of speech and sentiments. The general precepts are profusely illustrated from the works of standard authors and in this respect, the treatise forms a landmark in the history of Sanskrit literature.[35] In the first chapter, it deals with 屹ⲹlakṣaṇa, along with other topics.
Ѳṭa:
Ѳṭa, is of the opinion that poetry consists of words and meanings, faultless, with excellence or beauty even though sometimes undecorated.[36] In the ṃk literature, the 屹ⲹś (KP) occupies a unique position. It covers the whole ground of rhetoric, treats as usual of the merits and faults of poetry, the operation of the words and their sources and figures of speech. He opines that real poetry is free from faults and adorned with merits.
Ruyyaka:
Բ첹 Ruyyaka, who is held in high esteem as a theorist on poetry wrote the ṃk (Als.). According to P.V. Kane[37], Ruyyaka is a staunch advocate of the dhvani school and he briefly summarizes the views of 峾, ṭa, ܻṭa, 峾Բ, the VJ, Vyaktiviveka (VV) and ĀԲԻ岹Բ, on the essence of poetry. However, M. Winternitz[38] is of the opinion that Ruyyaka wholly depends upon his predecessors, especially Ѳṭa. When he refers to the views of 峾, ṭa, ܻṭa and 峾Բ, he speaks about them collectively.
岵ṭa I:
岵ṭa I, in his 岵ṭālṃk (Vāg.), in the first Pariccheda, defines 屹ⲹ[39], mentions پ as the source of 屹ⲹ, defines پ, vyutpatti and , speaks of the favourable circumstances for the out-turn of poetry and the conventions to be observed by the poets etc.
Hemacandra:
Hemacandra mentions the features of 屹ⲹlakṣaṇa in his 屹ԳśԲ (KA). He provides some observation as that of Ѳṭa. However, he replaces the term ṣa by the term prṣa only.
Jayadeva:
In the 䲹Իǰ첹 (CL) of Jayadeva also, in the first ū, the definition of 屹ⲹ is found.
Vidyadhara:
In the 屹ī (Ekā.) of Vidyadhara also, in the first ܲԳṣa, the definition of 屹ⲹ is given.
վśٳ Ჹ:
վśٳ Ჹ is of the opinion that the poetry is the sentence, soul whereof is flavour or sentiment (rasa).[40] վśٳ gives in ten chapters, a comprehensive treatment of all the topics of poetics, including dramaturgy. In the first chapter of his treatise, he provides the definition of poetry. Here վśٳ discusses the definitions of poetry proposed by different writers and at last, gives his own definition and illustrates it.[41]
ś Miśra:
After վśٳ, ś Miśra in his ṃkś (AŚ), consisting of eight chapters or ratnas and twenty-two ī, gives the definition of 屹ⲹ.
ʲṇḍٲᲹ Բٳ:
ʲṇḍٲᲹ Բٳ, is of the opinion that the word, establishing pleasant meaning is termed as 屹ⲹ[42] and the wonderfulness in sentiment is accepted as its essence.ʲṇḍٲᲹ Բٳ declares that of all the varieties of dhvani, rasadhvani is 貹ṇīy. In this standard work on poetics, next only to the DL and the KP, Jaganātha also examines the definitions of 屹ⲹ given by others. Բٳ is the last of the important writers on Sanskrit poetics.
Thus, the sentence without fault, blended with ṇa and ṃk, wonderful as well as the soul whereof is rasa is called 屹ⲹ. This is almost unanimously granted as the flawless definition of 屹ⲹ.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
kave� karma 屹ⲹ�/
ղǰپīٲ., vṛtti on kārika 2
[2]:
apāre 屹ⲹsaṃsāre kavireva prajāpati�/
yathāsmai rocate viśva� tatheda� parivartate//
śṛṅgārī cetkavi� kāvye jāta� rasamaya� jagat/
sa eva vītarāgaścennirasa� sarvameva tat//
bhāvānacetanānapi cetanavaccetanānacetanavat/
vyavahārayati yatheṣṭa� sukavi� kāvye svatantratayā//
ٳԲǰ첹., I. 3, vṛtti on 43
[3]:
http://www.bartleby.com/39/36.html, Famous Prefaces, The Harvard Classics, 1909-14 , preface to Lyrical Ballads, William Wordsworth, paragraph 6.
[4]:
mā niṣāda pratiṣṭhā� tvamagama� śāśvatī� samā�/
yatkrauñcamithunādekamavadhī� kāmamohita�// 峾ⲹṇa., 1. 2. 15
ĀԲԻ岹Բ also comments�
屹ⲹsyātmā sa evārthastathā cādikave� purā/
krauñcadvandvaviyogottha� śoka� śǰ첹tvamāgata�//
ٳԲǰ첹., I. 5, page 29
[5]:
kavirmanīsī paribhu� svayaṃbhu�/ Śukla Yajurveda., 40. 8
[6]:
janmādyasya yato’nvayādirata-ścārtheṣvabhijña� svarā� tene brahma hṛdā ya ādikavaye muhyanti yatsūraya�/
tejovārimṛdā� yathā vinimayo yatra trisargo’mṛṣā dhāmnā svena sadā nirastakuhaka� satya� para� dhīmahi//
岵ٲܰṇa, 1. 1.1; page 45
[7]:
śukro daityoguru� 屹ⲹ uśanā bhārgava� kavi�/
ṣa, 1. 3. 25
[8]:
śukrācārya� (yathā mahābhārate 1/66/42 Ś岹첹貹ܳ.,
[9]:
vidvān vipaściddoṣajña� san sudhī� kovido vudha�/
dhīro manīṣ� jña� prājña� saṅkhyāvān paṇḍita� kavi�//
ṣa, 2. 7. 5, Bhattacharya, Bidyānidhi, page 210
[10]:
About the term kavi, it has been written as -kavi�, pu�.,
(kavate sarva� jānāti sarva� varṇayati sarva� sarvato gacchati vā/ kav in/ yadvā kuśabde+ “aca� iḥ�/ uṇa� 4/138/ iti i�/)
brahmā/ iti hemacandra�//
also, kavi�, tri, kavate ślokān grathate varṇayati vā/ (kav+in) paṇḍita�/ityamara� 2/7/5;
also, kavi� strī, (kavati śabdāyate iti/ kuśabde “ac iḥ�/uṇa�/ 4/138 iti i�/
Deva, Rāja Rādhā Kānta, Ś岹첹貹ܳ., page 68
[11]:
ayam徱첹� yathā, “tene brahmahṛdā ya ādikavaye� (iti bhāgavate/ 1/1)
“vālmīkirmuni�/ Ś岹첹貹ܳ., page 68
[12]:
kṛta� mayeda� bhagavan! 屹ⲹ� parama pujita�/
Ѳٲ, Anuśāsana Parvan 1. 61
[13]:
asminnārṣe puna� sargā bhavantyākhyānasaṃjñakā�/ asminmahākāvye/ yathā-mahābhārata�/ Sāhityadarpaṇa., VI. 325
[14]:
屹ṃkūٰṛtپ., 1. 1. 1-3
[15]:
na hi rasādṛte kaścidartha� pravartate/
ṭyśٰ., VI
[16]:
vibhāvānu屹vyabhicārisaṃyogādrasa-niṣpatti�/
ṭyśٰ., VI. 32
[17]:
śabdārthau sahitau 屹ⲹ�/
KL., I. 16
[18]:
Sastri, G.N., CHCSL., p. 151
[19]:
śarīra� tāvadiṣṭārthavyavacchinnā padāvalī/
KD., I. 10
[20]:
Winternitz, M., History of Indian Literature., vol. III, page 13
[21]:
īپrātmā 屹ⲹsya, viśiṣṭā padaracanā īپ�, viśeṣo guṇātmā/
屹ṃkūٰṛtپ., I. 2. 6-8
22 Basu, A.C., 屹ṃkūٰṛtپ., page 35-36
[22]:
nanu śabdārthau 屹ⲹ�/
屹ṃk (of ܻṭa)., II. 1
[23]:
tasmāttatkartavya� yatnena mahīyasā rasairyukta�/
Ibid., XII. 2
[24]:
Ibid., II. 4, 6; XIV. 37; XV. 20
[25]:
Kane, P.V., History of Sanskrit Poetics., page 153
[26]:
Sastri, G.N., ‘A Concise History of Classical Sanskrit Literature�., page 153
[27]:
ṇavadalaṃkṛta� ca vākyameva 屹ⲹ�/
屹ⲹīṃs., VI
[28]:
vakroktireva vaidagdhyabhaṅgībhaṇitirucyate/
ղǰپīٲ., I. 10
[29]:
Kane, P.V., History of Sanskrit Poetics., page 228
[30]:
屹ⲹsyātmani saṅjñini rasādirūpe na kasyacidvimati�/
Vyaktiviveka., Sastri, T.G., page 22
[31]:
yatrārtha� śabdo vā tamarthamupasarjanīkṛtasvārthau/
vyaṅkta� 屹ⲹviśeṣa sa dhvaniriti sūribhi� kathita�// ٳԲǰ첹., I. 13
[32]:
Kane, P.V., History of Sanskrit Poetics., page 248
[33]:
Krishnamachariar, M., ‘History of Classical Sanskrit Literature�., page 753
[34]:
Winternitz, M., History of Indian Literature., page 25
[35]:
Krishnamachariar, M., ‘History of Classical Sanskrit Literature�., page 750-751
[36]:
tadṣa śabdārthau saguṇāvanalaṅkṛtī puna� kvāpi// 屹ⲹś., I, sūtra 1
[37]:
Kane, P.V., History of Sanskrit Poetics., page 275
[38]:
Winternitz, M., History of Indian Literature., page 26
[39]:
Kane, P.V., History of Sanskrit Poetics., page 286
[40]:
vākya� rasātmaka� 屹ⲹ�/
Sāhityadarpaṇa., I. 3
[41]:
Kane, P.V., History of Sanskrit Poetics., page 302
[42]:
ramanīyārthapratipādaka� śabda� 屹ⲹ�/
Rasagaṅgādhara., Ānana 1