Alamkaras mentioned by Vamana
by Pratim Bhattacharya | 2016 | 65,462 words
This page relates ‘Definition of Upama 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.
1: Definition of 貹 Alaṃkāra
峾Բ has defined and illustrated twenty-nine ٳṃk. He deals with the ‘mother� figure ܱ貹 in the second chapter of the ṃk첹 첹ṇa. We come across the word ܱ貹 as early as the age of the ṻ岹[1]. 첹, the author of Nirukta, has pointed out that some of the Ծٲ like iva, na, ⲹٳ, vat etc. are used in the sense of ܱ貹 in the ṻ岹[2] .
He furnishes five varieties of ܱ貹 with illustrations�
- 첹DZ貹,
- ūٴDZ貹,
- ūDZ貹,
- DZ貹 and
- ܱٴDZ貹 or ٳDZ貹.
However, the word ܱ貹 itself has several meanings other than similarity in the Vedic literature. Apart from the Vedas, words like upamita and ܱ貹na can be traced in the famous ṣṭī of ṇiԾ[3] . The prominence of ܱ貹 as an individual figure of speech based on similarity is, however, established by the Sanskrit rhetoricians. 貹 holds the prime position among the figures of sense and is recognized by all Sanskrit rhetoricians.
貹 is one of the four ancient figures admitted by Bharata in his ṭyśٰ. He defines the figure �
yatkiñcit 屹ⲹbandhesu sādṛśyenopamīyate/
ܱ貹nāma vijñeyāguṇākṛtisamāśrayā//
&Բ;&Բ;—ṭyśٰ (of Bharata) 17.82.—When in a poetical composition, a comparison is made on the basis of similarity relating to quality and form, it is called ܱ貹.
Bharata states that the comparison in ܱ貹 can be made by comparing one with one or many, or of many with one or of many with many[4] . He also furnishes five varieties of the figure based on śṃs (praise), ԾԻ (censure), 첹辱 (imagination), ṛś� (uniqueness or comparison to itself) and kiñcit ṛś� (partial similarity)[5] .
峾 defines the figure �
viruddheno貹nena deśakālakriyādibhi�/
upameyasya yat 峾ⲹ� guṇaleśena so貹//
&Բ;&Բ;�屹ṃk (of 峾) 2.30.—When the upameya which is different from ܱ貹na in terms of place, time or action is shown as similar to it on account of a small resemblance, the figure is called ܱ貹.
峾 suggests two varieties of the figure—one where the word ⲹٳ or iva is used to express the resemblance between the upameya and the ܱ貹na and another where these words are not used and the resemblance is hidden in a compound word (屹ṃk (of 峾) 2.31-32.). These two varieties can be identified with the popular divisions of the figure ūṇo貹 and ܱٴDZ貹 respectively.
ٲṇḍ has defined ܱ貹 in close accordance to the ṭyśٰ�
ⲹٳkathañcit ṛśy� yatrodbhūta� pratīyate/
ܱ貹nāma sāٲ� prapañco'ya� nidarśyate//
&Բ;&Բ;—Kāvyādarśa (of ٲṇḍ) 2.14.
This is one of the most general definitions of the figure. The words �ⲹٳ kathañcit� and �ṛśy�� are to be found in the definition of ṭyśٰ also. Though the specific mention of the technical terms upameya and ܱ貹na do not appear in the definition, the word �ṛśy�� includes in itself any kind of comparison in poetical composition. With this wide and ambiguous view about the figure ܱ貹 and ṛśy, ٲṇḍ mentions more than thirty varieties of the figure. Lot of these varieties of ܱ貹 have been later on excluded from the sphere of the figure and given separate status as individual figures.
Ծܰṇa� s definition[6] and treatment of ܱ貹 has resemblance to that of ٲṇḍ. It also recognises a lot of varieties of the figure admitted by ٲṇḍ.
Keśavamiśra (Alaṃkāraśekhara 11.3.) has also put forth ten varieties of the figure which can be related to the varieties furnished by ٲṇḍ. ٲṇḍ’s classification of the figure is based on the sense of the concerned example verse and has no other technical specification. Later Sanskrit rhetoricians have, thus, rejected this type of classification of the figure and have indulged into much more technical details while classifying the figure.
峾Բ defines the figure ܱ貹 �
ܱ貹nenopameyasya ṇaśٲ� 峾ⲹmܱ貹/
&Բ;&Բ;—屹ṃkūٰṛtپ (of 峾Բ) 4.2.1.—T slightest resemblance of qualities between the ܱ貹na and the upameya constitutes the ܱ貹.
峾Բ then furnishes in detail the meanings of the terms ܱ貹na and upameya and also throws light on their relation in respect of the figure ܱ貹 in his ṛtپ.
He elongates the two terms ܱ貹na and upameya in respect of their etymological set-up�
upamīyate ṛśymānīyate yenotkṛṣṭaguṇenānyat tadܱ貹nam /
yadupamīyate nyūnaguṇa� tadupameyam/
&Բ;&Բ;—屹ṃkūٰṛtپ (of 峾Բ) 4.2.1. (ṛtپ).—T ܱ貹na is an object having superior qualities with which the similarity of another object (upameya) is shown.
The upameya is the object with which the ܱ貹na is compared. It has inferior qualities to that of the ܱ貹na. The similarity between ܱ貹na and upameya is pointed out in the figure ܱ貹. The similarity is based on the qualities, even sight, between the two objects.
The 峾Գ commentator explains the term �ṇaśٲ�� in the definition �
guṇāܱ貹nopameyayorutkṛṣṭadharmā�/ teṣāṃ leśata ekadeśata� / kvacidapi sarārasādṛśyāsambhavāditi 屹�/
—峾Գ�, 屹ṃkūٰṛtپ (of 峾Բ) 4.2.1.—According to him ṇa are the best qualities that ܱ貹na and upameya possess. Even a small part of these ṇa can lead to a concept of similarity between the two. It is impossible to have absolute similarity between the two objects of comparison.
峾Բ himself has raised an objection regarding the use of the words ܱ貹na and upameya in his definition of ܱ貹. These two words are relative terms and thus the mention of any one of them would indicate the other. For example, in the ūٰ �ܱ貹ٲ� vyāghrādibhi� sāmānyāprayoge� (ṣṭī 2.1.56 of ṇiԾ), only �upamita� or upameya has been mentioned and the ܱ貹na is indicated by it. 峾Բ has composed his work in the �ūٰ-ṛtپ� style which is preferred by the Grammarians. An essential feature of the grammatical ūٰs is the precise and terse use of words in them[7] . So, 峾Բ is keen to just ify the use of both the words ܱ貹na and upameya in his definition presented in the form of ūٰ. According to him, both these words are mentioned in his definition to point out that only those ܱ貹nas (and also the upameyas) that are popular and well-known among people are to be regarded as a part of the figure ܱ貹. Thus the use �ܰ� kamalamiva� (the face is like the lotus) is to be regarded as an instance of the ܱ貹 because of its popularity among people. But �ܰ� kumudamiva� (the face is like the lily) is not to be considered as an instance of the figure because the ܱ貹na �kumudam� is not a well-known ܱ貹na for the upameya �mukham�[8] .
Vamana calls this popular upama as ܰ쾱īܱ貹�
ūٳ ܰ쾱ī/
&Բ;&Բ;—屹ṃkūٰṛtپ (of 峾Բ) 4.2.2. ṛtپ.
The second type of ܱ貹 is called 첹辱 (imaginary). 峾Բ defines this ܱ貹 �
guṇabāhulyataśca 첹辱/
&Բ;&Բ;—屹ṃkūٰṛtپ (of 峾Բ) 4.2.2.—When the similarity is imagined on the basis of a large number of common qualities it is called 첹辱ܱ貹.
It is very much dependent on the imagination of the poet and thus is named 첹辱[9] .
峾Բ again raises an objection regarding 첹辱u 貹. The 첹辱 ܱ貹 is generated from the imagination of the poet and the similarity prescribed there is not well-known and popular among people. So, it is impossible to recognise the ܱ貹na and the upameya there separately as these are names based upon similarity recognised by the people. The answer to this problem is that in 첹辱ܱ貹 the ܱ貹na and the upameya are recognised by the superiority and the inferiority of the multitude of qualities ascribed to them respectively[10] . The ܱ貹na, as stated earlier, should have the excellence of quality and the upameya should be inferior or deficient to it in terms of qualities.
峾Բ illustrates 첹辱ܱ貹 in the following four verses�
i) udgarbhahūṇataruṇīramaṇopamardabhugnonnatistananiveśanibha� himāṃśo�/
� 첹ṻǰṇḍ첹ḍārܰṣṇ� 貹岹� prathamamagrakarairvyanakti//—T disc of the moon, which is like the breast of the pregnant Hūṇāwoman pressed by her lover during dalliance, brightens up the sky with its rays which are as white as the hard stems of the lotus-plants.
Here the similarity between the breasts of the Hūṇāwoman (ܱ貹na) and the lunar disc (upameya) and that between the moon’s rays (upameya) and the hard lotus stems (ܱ貹na) are not well-known to the ordinary people.
These similarities are imagined by the poet on the basis of a large number of common qualities present in the two objects compared.
ii) sadhyo muṇḍitamattahūṇacibukapraspardhi nāraṅgakam/
—T orange resembles the newly shaven chin of the drunk Hūṇ�.
Here the similarity between the orange (upameya) and the the chin of the ūṇa (ܱ貹na) is imagined.
iii) abhinavaśsūcispardhi karṇe śīṣam/
—T śīṣa flower in her ear is like the fresh shoot of the ś-grass.
Here the similarity between the śīṣa flower (upameya) and the ś-shoot (ܱ貹na) is imagined.
iv) idāni� plakṣānā� jaraṭhadalaviśleṣacaturastibhīnāmābaddhasphuritaśukacañcupuṭanibham/
ٲٲ� ٰīṇāṃ hanta kṣamamadharakānti� tulayitu� samantānniryāti sphuṭasubhagarāga� kisalayam//—At present the branches of the banyan tree have shed their old leaves and are possessed with new red leaves which resemble the beak of the parrot. One who is capable of comparing them with the beautiful lips of women can be considered as efficient.
Here the similarity between the red leaves of the banyan tree (upameya) and the beak of the parrot (ܱ貹na) is imagined.
峾Բ again shows two more varieties of the figure as padārthaṛtپ and yārthaṛtپ�
taddvaividhya� padayārthaṛtپbhedāt/
&Բ;&Բ;—屹ṃkūٰṛtپ (of 峾Բ) 4.2.3.
He illustrates these two types of the figure in the following verses�
i) haritatanuṣu babhrutvagvimuktāsu �
첹Բ첹첹ṇamānmatho romabheda�/—T women whose bodies freed from the tawny skin are thrilled due to affection causing the hairs of their bodies to stand up which resemble dusts of gold.
Here the similarity is denoted by the word �첹Բ첹첹ṇa� and thus it is an example of padārthaṛtپ ܱ貹.
ii) ṇḍ' yamaṃsārpitalambahāra� kḷptāṅgarāgo haricandanena/
āپ bālātaparaktasānu� sanirjharodgāra ivādrirāja�//—T ṇḍⲹ king with the long necklace hanging over his shoulder and with his body covered with fresh sandal -paint resembles the Chief of the Mountains ᾱⲹ with the springs flowing along its sides and its peaks reddened with the rays of the newly risen sun.
Here the similarity is between the first and the second sentence of the verse which are upameya-ⲹ and ܱ貹na-ⲹ respectively.
峾Բ furnishes yet another two -fold division of ܱ貹�
- ūṇo貹 and
- ܱٴDZ貹.[11]
He defines the first type �
guṇadyotako貹nopameyaśabdānā� sāmagrye ūṇ�/
&Բ;&Բ;—屹ṃkūٰṛtپ (of 峾Բ) 4.2.5.—If a comparison contains all the qualities or factors necessary to constitute ܱ貹, it is called ūṇāܱ貹�.
The 峾Գ commentator clarifies this definition further�
ܱ貹nopameyaԲṛśypratipādakānāmanyūnatvena prayoge ūṇ�/
—峾Գ�, 屹ṃkūٰṛtپ (of 峾Բ) 4.2.5.—If a comparison contains ܱ貹na (the standard of comparison), upameya (the object of comparison), Բ (the common property) and ṛśypratipādaka (word denoting similitude) the comparison is called ūṇ� ܱ貹.
峾Բ gives an example of this type of ܱ貹�
kamalamiva ܰ� manojñametat/
&Բ;&Բ;—屹ṃkūٰṛtپ (of 峾Բ) 4.2.5. ṛtپ.—T face is beautiful like a lotus.
Here the lotus is ܱ貹na, the face is upameya, beauty is Բ and �iva� is ṛśypratipadakaśabda.
The second type of ܱ貹 is ܱ and is defined by 峾Բ �
lope ܱ/
&Բ;&Բ;—屹ṃkūٰṛtپ (of 峾Բ) 4.2.6.
The 峾Գ commentator again clarifies�
ܱ貹nopameyaguṇaṛśypratipādakānā� madhye ekasya dvayostrayāṇāṃ vālope ܱ/
—峾Գ�, 屹ṃkūٰṛtپ (of 峾Բ) 4.2.6.
峾Բ illustrates this type of ܱ貹 with the following examples�
i) The absence of common property�
—T king is like the moon.
ii) The absence of word (like iva, ⲹٳ etc.) denoting similitude�
�ūś峾ⲹ�
—She is green like ū-grass.
iii) The absence of 峾Բⲹ and ṛśypratipādakaśabda�
�śśīܰī�
—She is moon-faced.
峾Բ states that the example of the absence of words denoting ܱ貹na and upameya have been mentioned in the following ⲹ which discusses the figures based on ܱ貹[12] . The 峾Գ commentator asserts that the absence of upameya can be observed in the figure ǰپ etc. whereas the absence of ܱ貹na can be seen in the figure ṣe貹[13] .
峾Բ states that ܱ貹 is generally employed in praising, condemning and describing the real state of things�
stutiԾԻtatthyāneṣu/
&Բ;&Բ;—屹ṃkūٰṛtپ (of 峾Բ) 4.2.7.
He illustrates these applications of the figure �
i) Praise (stuti)�
�Ծ� bhavatyamṛtakalpamaho kalatram�
—A gentle or affectionate wife is like nectar.
ii) Condemnation (ԾԻ)�
�� viṣamivāpaguṇa� tadeva�
—A wife who is devoid of good qualities is like the poison �Ჹ�.
iii) Describing the real state of things (ٲٳٱԲ)�
� dzṇīṃ vijānīhi jyotiṣāmatra maṇḍale/
yastanvi tārakānyāsa� śaka� ākāramāśrita�//—Among the galaxy of stars know that to be the dzṇ� which appears in the shape of a cart.
峾Բ now points out the six defects of ܱ貹. They are īԲٱ (deficiency), adhikatva (excessiveness), ṅg岹 (disparity of gender), vacanabheda (disparity of number), aṛśy (non-similitude) and asambhava (Dzٲ)�
īԲٱ첹ٱṅgԲṛśyٲṣāḥ/
&Բ;&Բ;—屹ṃkūٰṛtپ (of 峾Բ) 4.2.8.
Further explanations and illustrations of these defects of ܱ貹 are as follows�
i) īԲٱ—T defect generated by the inferiority of ܱ貹na to the upameya in caste, in magnitude and in quality is called īԲٱ�
jātipramāṇadharmanyūnato貹nasya īԲٱ�/
&Բ;&Բ;—屹ṃkūٰṛtپ (of 峾Բ) 4.2.9.
The examples of the different types of īԳٱ �
a) īԲٱ in caste�
�caṇḍālairiva yuṣmābhi� � 貹� ṛt�
—T act of great daring has been done by you like the ṇḍ.
b) īԲٱ in magnitude�
�vahnisphuliṅga iva bhānuraya� cakāsti�
—T sun is shining like a spark of fire.
c) īԲٱ in quality�
sa munirlāñchito mauñjyāṛṣṇājԲ貹ṭa� vahan/
vyarājanīīūabhāgāśliṣṭa ivāṃśumān//—T sage who was wearing a black antelope’s skin enclosed by a griddle-string, was shinning like the sun surrounded by dark blue clouds.
峾Բ mentions that in the last example the ܱ貹na is the sun and the upameya is the sage. But there is no effort of stating an ܱ貹na (like ٲḍi or lightening) for the concerned upameya �ñī� (griddle-string). It is not right to say that the ܱ貹na here is �ṛṣṇājԲ貹ṭa� because in that case the mention of �ñī� will be rendered fruitless. Again it will be unjust to say that the mention of �īīū� implies the �ٲḍi� because there is no such necessary connection between these two.
This idea of ܱ貹nopameyabhāva has been further clarified in the next ūٰ�
ǰ첹Ծś' nyasya ṃv /
&Բ;&Բ;—屹ṃkūٰṛtپ (of 峾Բ) 4.2.10.—When two objects are concomitant of each other, the mention of one of them implies the other.
An example of this concomitance is as follows�
nirvṛṣṭe'pi bahirdhanena viramantyantarjaradveśmano
lūtātantutaticchido madhupṛṣatpiṅgā� payobindava�/
cūḍābarbarake nipatya kaṇikābhāvena � śiśoraṅgāsphālanabhagnanidragṛhiṇīcittavⲹٳdāyina�//—Though rain outside has stopped, there is no cessation of the drops of rainwater falling from within the dilapidated house which are, as because they are passing through the spider’s nets, are yellowish like the drops of honey. These drops are falling upon the curly hair of the child sleeping in the house and are making him throw about his limbs and thus causing great mental agony to the house wife whose sleep is disturbed by this incident.
The yellowness and roundness of the honey-drops are two concomitant qualities. So, the word �辱ṅg� used in the verse to denote yellowness implies the idea of roundness (ṛtٲٱ) also[14] .
The same explanation implies for the instance�
kanakaphalakacaturasra� śroṇibimbam/
—Her hips are as symmetrical as a sheet of gold.
The concomitance of symmetry and brightness can be seen in the sheet of gold. So, brightness is implied here by the mention of symmetry[15] .
An objection is raised in this context that if the deficiency of quality is to be regarded as a defect of ܱ貹na then how the following verse can be flawless�
sūryāṃśusammīlitalocaneṣu dīneṣu padmānilanirmadeṣu/
sādhvya� svageheṣviva bhartṛhīnā� vineśu� śikhinā� mukheṣu//—T sound died in the mouths of those peacocks whose eyes were closed due to sun’s rays and who were in a sorry plight having been rendered joyless due to the wind flowing from among the lotuses. They are like the widow women living in their houses.
Here the upameya looks like having more qualities than the ܱ貹na[16] . But 峾Բ refutes this objection by asserting that in this verse only some special features of the upameya have been mentioned without any intension of comparing them with the qualities of the ܱ貹na. The Բ or common property here is dainya or misery[17] .
So the objection raised before is not tenable.
ii) Adhikatva�Adhikatva is the opposite of īԲٱ and is thus explained by the definition of īԲٱ ٲ�
tenādhikatva� vyākhyātam/
&Բ;&Բ;—屹ṃkūٰṛtپ (of 峾Բ) 4.2.11.
The excess of ܱ貹na in caste, magnitude and quality is called adhikatva.
The examples of these different types of adhikatva is as follows�
a) Adhikatva in caste�
�viśantu viṣṭaya� śī� rudrāiva mahaujasa��
—Let the workers enter like the mighty Rudras.
b) Adhikatva in magnitude�
pātālamiva nābhiste stanau kṣitidharopamau/
veṇīdaṇḍa� punaraya� kālindīpātasaṃnibha�//—Ydzܰ naval is (deep) like the nether-world; your breasts are (voluminous) like the mountain and your braided tresses are (curvy or dark) like the fall of the Իī (۲ܲ).
c) Adhikatva in quality�
ś ñ� � dadhaddevo vyarājata/
saḍa岵Ծ� sāvarta� srotasāmiva ⲹ첹�//—T king who is holding the moving discuss of which rays are coming out resembles the ocean with the submarine-fire and whirlpool.
峾Բ says that in the last example t here is a mention of the �ḍa岵Ծ� (submarine-fire) in context of the ܱ貹na but nothing has been mentioned to resemble it in context of the upameya[18] .
īԳٱ and adhikatva include in themselves another defect of the ܱ貹 called viparyaya (contrariety). This defect has been mentioned by 峾 (屹ṃk (of 峾) 2.39-40) as one of the seven ṣa advocated by his predecessor ѱ屹.
The 峾Գ commentator defines this defect �
upameyadharmasya īԲٱmadhikatvañca 貹ⲹⲹ�/
�峾Գ, 屹ṃkūٰṛtپ (of 峾Բ) 4.2.11.—T deficiency or excessiveness of the qualities of the upameya in respect of the ܱ貹na is called viparyaya.
It is clear from this definition that this defect of ܱ貹 is really not a separate defect but rather a variation of the two defects mentioned earlier. This also makes it clear that the defects of ܱ貹 are only six in number and not more[19] .
iii) ṅg岹—T defect called ṅg岹 appears when there is contradiction in the gender of the ܱ貹na and the upameya�
ܱ貹nopameyayorliṅgavyatyāso ṅg岹�/
&Բ;&Բ;—屹ṃkūٰṛtپ (of 峾Բ) 4.2.12.
An example of such defect �
�ԲԾ nadya iva jagmuranargālani /�
—T armies went along like a river.
Here the ܱ貹na �Բⲹ�� is feminine and while the upameya �ԲԾ� is neuter. The 峾Գ commentator gives another example�
�gaṅgāpravāha iva tasya nirargalā /�
—His words are unimpeded like the flow of the Ganges.
Here the ܱ貹na �ṅg�� is masculine while the upameya �� is feminine.
According to 峾Բ the exception of this rule can be allowed in some cases. So in the following ūٰ he says�
ṣṭ� puṃnapuṃsakayo� prāyeṇa/
&Բ;&Բ;—屹ṃkūٰṛtپ (of 峾Բ) 4.2.13.—In some cases the comparison between the masculine and the neuter ܱ貹na and vice versa can be allowed.
For example, in �candramiva ܰ� paśyati� (He sees the face which is like the moon.) the upameya is neuter while the ܱ貹na is masculine. This exception of rules is only permissible where the forms of the two words in two genders representing the upamana and the upameya are similar but in other cases like �induriva ܰ� پ� (The face shines like the moon.) the diversity of gender is not acceptable due to the difference of forms.
The second case of exception of this rule regarding gender �
ܰ쾱� samāsābhihitāyāmܱ貹prapañce ca/
&Բ;&Բ;—屹ṃkūٰṛtپ (of 峾Բ) 4.2.14.—T contradiction of gender is acceptable when the ܱ貹 is ܰ쾱ī or used during ordinary common speech, where the ܱ貹 is expressed by means of compounds and where the various modifications of ܱ貹 are used.
The examples of these areas of exception �
a) Laukikīܱ貹�
�chāyeva sa ٲ��
—He is like her shadow.
b) Compounds�
�bhujalatānīlotpalaṛś��
—T creeper-like arm is like the blue-lotus.
c) Modifications of ܱ貹 (other figures based on similarity)�
śuddhāntadurlabhamida� vapurāśramavāsino yadi janasya/
ūīṛt� khalu ṇaܻԲ屹Բ�//
—Quoted from Abhijñānaśakuntala (of ) 1.16.—If such a body, rare even in the seraglio of a king, be possessed by one living in a hermitage, then it is to be said that the creepers of the garden have been surpassed in excellence by the wild creepers.
iv) Vacanabheda—T concept of ṅg岹 discussed earlier can be applied to vacanabheda �
tena vacanabhedo ٲ�/
&Բ;&Բ;—屹ṃkūٰṛtپ (of 峾Բ) 4.2.15.
The defect which arises from the contradiction of the number of the ܱ貹na and the upameya is called vacanabheda.
An example of vacanabheda �
—I drink (sink into) her eyes as the bees drink in the flower.
The 峾Գ commentator justifies vacanabheda in this example �
pāsyāma iti vaktavye pāsyāmīti prayuktatvāt vacanabheda�/
�峾Գ, 屹ṃkūٰṛtپ (of 峾Բ) 4.2.15.
v) Aṛśy—T defect called aṛśy is generated when the similarity of quality intended to be asserted is not totally comprehended�
apratītaguṇaṛśymaṛśym/
&Բ;&Բ;—屹ṃkūٰṛtپ (of 峾Բ) 4.2.16.
An example of this defect �
�grathnāmi 屹ⲹśaśina� vitatārtharaśmim�
—I am composing the poetry-moon with ray-like expanding meaning.
Here the similarity between the upameya �屹ⲹ� and the ܱ貹na �śśī� is not totally comprehensible due to the non-comprehensibility of the quality. An objection has been raised in this context that the similarity of the arthas (meanings) with ś (rays) is comprehensible enough to constitute the similarity between the 屹ⲹ and the śśī. This objection, according to 峾Բ, is not tenable because only after the similarity between the 屹ⲹ and the śśī has been established that the similarity between the arthas and the ś can be constituted. Again, there is no common property mentioned between the arthas and the ś which would establish their similarity. Because of these factors �ٲٲśⲹṣa� (the flaw caused by mutual interdependence) would be unavoidable in this case[20] .
峾Բ goes on fur ther to state that the aṛśy defect of ܱ貹 is the worst defect of the figure. It entirely destroys the poet and his creation�
aṛśyhatāhyܱ貹, tanniṣṭhāśca kavaya�/
&Բ;&Բ;—屹ṃkūٰṛtپ (of 峾Բ) 4.2.17.
Some people hold that aṛśy can be avoided by the use of large number of ܱ貹nas�
ܱ貹nadhikhyāt tadapoha ityeke/
&Բ;&Բ;—屹ṃkūٰṛtپ (of 峾Բ) 4.2.18.
For example, in �첹ūhāraharahāsasita� yaśaste� (Your fame is white like a camphor -necklace and like the smile of Śhiva.) the similarity is established by the use of a number of ܱ貹nas (like 첹ū etc.) which indicate excessive whiteness. 峾Բ, however, rejects this opinion.
According to him, the use of many ܱ貹nas does not nourish or enhance the meaning already stated by an ܱ貹na�
ṣṭٳٱ/
&Բ;&Բ;—屹ṃkūٰṛtپ (of 峾Բ) 4.2.19.
He clarifies in his ṛtپ �
ekasminnܱ貹ne prayukte ܱ貹nāntaraprayogo na kaścidarthaviśeṣa� puṣṇāti/
&Բ;&Բ;—屹ṃkūٰṛtپ (of 峾Բ) 4.2.19. ṛtپ.
So the example �balasindhu� sindhuriva ṣuٲ�� (The Ocean of strength or army is ruffled like the Ocean.) is faulty due to the use of the word �sindhu� twice. It can be said that there is no tautology due to the use of the word �sindhu� twice as the first word means �� sindhuriva vaipulyāt� (the strength or army is like the Ocean due to its extensiveness) while the second word is used to describe the similarity between the sindhu and the bala on account of �ṣoūⲹ� (similarity of being ruffled). The difference of implication of these two words avoids the defect of tautology. But it does not enhance or add anything to the meaning of the example because as stated earlier (屹ṃkūٰṛtپ (of 峾Բ) 4.2.10.) the mention of the word �ṣuٲ� implies the extensiveness of the sindhu also[21] .
vi) Asambhava—T asambhava defect of ܱ貹 is caused due to the impossibility of the object mentioned as ܱ貹na�
Գܱ貹貹ٳپ�/
&Բ;&Բ;—屹ṃkūٰṛtپ (of 峾Բ) 4.2.20.
An example of this defect �
cakāsti vadanasyānta� smitacchāyāvikāsina�/
unnidrasyāravindasya madhye mugdheva Ի//—T shadow of the light smile in her shinning face is like the beautiful moonlight within the blooming lotus.
The blooming of the lotus in moon-light is naturally impossible. It may be objected that this is an instance of �arthavirodha� (contradiction of meaning) and not of a defect of ܱ貹.
But this objection is unjust as the figure ܱ貹 involves in itself �پśⲹ� or exaggeration which sometimes leads to incongruity�
ܱ貹yāmپśⲹsyeṣṭatvāt/
&Բ;&Բ;—屹ṃkūٰṛtپ (of 峾Բ) 4.2.20. ṛtپ.
But this exaggeration should always be rational and failing which arises the defect asambhava�
na viruddho'tiśaya�/
&Բ;&Բ;—屹ṃkūٰṛtپ (of 峾Բ) 4.2.21.
峾Բ emphasises that an aspiring poet should properly know these six defects of ܱ貹 and should always avoid them[22] .
The rhetoricians after 峾Բ like Ruyyaka (Alaṃkārasarvasva p-25.), Ѳṭa (屹ⲹ-ś 10.125.), 岵ṭa I (Vāgbhaṭālaṃkāra 4.50.), 岵ṭa II (Kāvyānuśāsana p-33.), Hemcandra (Kāvyānuśāsana 6.1.), վ (屹ī 8.2.), վٳ (Pratāparudrayaśobhūṣaṇa Chapter-VIII, p-351.), վśٳ (ٲⲹ-岹貹ṇa 10.14.), Appayya Dīkṣita (Kuvalayānanda 6), Բٳ (Rasa-ṅg Chapter-II, p-157.) etc. have all treated the figure ܱ貹 in a general manner. The rhetoricians by and large agree that the figure ܱ貹 is basically a comparison of two things or objects based on the similarity of common property or quality present in them. This similarity is largely generated from the imagination of the poet and thus involves, in itself, some sort of poetic exaggeration. The words �ṛśy�, �ⲹ�, �峾ⲹ� and �ūⲹ� have been used to denote the similarity present in the figure. The difference of upameya and ܱ貹na required to separate the figure from ananvaya has been first mentioned by 峾. Later on words like �bheda�, �binna� etc. have been added in the definition of the figure ܱ貹 in order to separate it from ananvaya. The feature �ekaⲹtā� has been also added in the definition of the figure to separate it from upameyo貹. Ruyyaka adds �bhedābhedatulyatve sādharmye� to separate the figure from vyatireka, ū貹첹 etc. վśٳ includes �峾ⲹ� vācyam� to separate the figure from the sphere of the figures like ū貹첹 etc. where similarity is implied. He also adds the word �avaidharmye� to distinguish the figure from vyatireka. The rhetoricians have also emphasised that the similitude in the figure ܱ貹 must be beautiful and appealing to the connoisseur. So the words �ٴdz�, �ٰ�, �ṛdⲹ�, �sundaram� etc. have been added in the definition of the figure.
As far as the varieties of the figure are concerned, Ruyyaka furnishes three basic varieties based on ܱ貹nopameyabhāva, ٳܱپٳܲ屹 and پ屹. Other rhetoricians have put forth several variations of the figure. ṭa furnis hes seventeen (17) varieties, Ѳṭa twenty-five (25), Ծܰṇa eighteen (18) and վśٳ shows twenty -seven (27) varieties of the figure. Բٳ has rightly suggested that the variations of ܱ貹, if multiplied by the different criteria advocated by the rhetoricians, can be numerous[23] .
峾Բ has given a detailed discourse on the figure ܱ貹 and he has successfully put forth the basic features of the figure. He is the first rhetorician to classify the figure into ܰ쾱ī and 첹辱 varieties. Thus he has put forth the popularity of the figure in common usage as well as the importance of the imagination of the poet in constructing the figure. Again, he is the pioneer to classify the figure into the conventional padārthaṛtپ-yārthaṛtپ and ūṇ�-ܱ (of which 峾 talks ambiguously) varieties. However, no traces of ٲṇḍ’s elaborate variations of the figure can be seen in the treatment of 峾Բ. It seems that 峾Բ has recognized some varieties of the figure mentioned by ٲṇḍ but he considers them as mere applications of the figure (屹ṃkūٰṛtپ (of 峾Բ) 4.2.7.). 峾Բ also speaks of elaborately about the defects of ܱ貹 contradicting the views of ٲṇḍ (Kāvyādarśa (of ٲṇḍ) 2.51) who considers them as ṣa only when they cause disgust to the connoisseur. 峾Բ’s treatment of the figure, is thus, much more precise and conclusive than that of his predecessors.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
ṻ岹. 1.113.15. & 7.30.3.
[2]:
Nirukta. 3.13.
[3]:
ṣṭī. 2.1.55-56.
[4]:
[5]:
śṃscaiva ԾԻca 첹辱ṛśītathā/
kiñcicca ṛśījñeyāhyܱ貹pañcadhābudhai�//
&Բ;&Բ;—ṭyśٰ (of Bharata) 7.87.
[6]:
ܱ貹nāma sāyasyāmܱ貹nopameyayo�/
sattācāntarasāmanyayogitve'pi vivakṣitam//
쾱ñⲹ ūⲹ� lokayātra pravarttate/
&Բ;&Բ;—Ծܰṇa 344.6-7.
[7]:
[8]:
tatkṛta� lokaprasiddhiparigrahārtham / yadevopameyamܱ貹nañca lokaprasiddha� tadeva parigṛhyate, netarat/ na hi ⲹٳ“ܰṃ kamalamiva� iti, tathā“kumudamiva� ityapi bhavati/
&Բ;&Բ;—屹ṃkūٰṛtپ (of 峾Բ) 4.2.1. ṛtپ.
[9]:
kavibhi� kalpitatvāt 첹辱/
&Բ;&Բ;—屹ṃkūٰṛtپ (of 峾Բ) 4.2.2. ṛtپ.
[10]:
ṇaⲹdzٰ첹ṣāp첹ṣa첹貹峾/
&Բ;&Բ;—屹ṃkūٰṛtپ (of 峾Բ) 4.2.2. ṛtپ.
[11]:
sāūṇāܱca/
&Բ;&Բ;—屹ṃkūٰṛtپ (of 峾Բ) 4.2.4.
[13]:
[14]:
tatra 辱ṅgśabdena 辱ṅgtve pratipanne ṛtٲٱpratītirbhavati /
&Բ;&Բ;—屹ṃkūٰṛtپ (of 峾Բ) 4.2.10. ṛtپ.
[15]:
kanakaphalakasya gauratvacaturasratvayo� sāhacaryāccaturasratva -
śrutaiva gauratvapratipattiriti/
&Բ;&Բ;—屹ṃkūٰṛtپ (of 峾Բ) 4.2.10. ṛtپ.
[16]:
[17]:
kintu bhartṛīԲٱsya nirmadatvādeścopapādakasya bhede'pyubha-yatra dainyameva ⲹmiti vivak� itamiti na kaścidǻ� /
&Բ;&Բ;�峾Գ, 屹ṃkūٰṛtپ (of 峾Բ) 4.2.10.
[18]:
ḍa岵Ծrityasyopameye' 屹ⲹپ/
&Բ;&Բ;—屹ṃkūٰṛtپ (of 峾Բ) 4.2.11. ṛtپ.
[19]:
anayordoṣayorviparyayākhyasya ṣayāntarbhāvānna pṛthagupādā-nam/
ata evāsmāka� mate ṣaḍdoṣāiti/
&Բ;&Բ;—屹ṃkūٰṛtپ (of 峾Բ) 4.2.11. ṛtپ.
[20]:
屹ⲹsya śaśitulyatve siddhe'rthānā� raśmitulyatva� siddhyati / na
hyarthānā� raśmīnā� ca kaścit ṛśyhetu� pratīto guṇo'sti /
tadevamitaretarāśrayadoṣo duruttara iti/
&Բ;&Բ;—屹ṃkūٰṛtپ (of 峾Բ) 4.2.16. ṛtپ.
[21]:
sindhuriva ṣuٲ ityanenaiva vaipulya� pratipatsyate /
ukta hi �dharmayorekanirdeśe'nyasya ṃvsāhacaryāt'/
&Բ;&Բ;—屹ṃkūٰṛtپ (of 峾Բ) 4.2.19. ṛtپ.
[22]:
tānetān ṣaḍܱ貹doṣān jñātavi� parityajet/
&Բ;&Բ;—屹ṃkūٰṛtپ (of 峾Բ) 4.2.21. ṛtپ.
[23]:
eva� ca prācā� mate pañcaviṃśatibhedāyā� puna� pañcavidhatāyā� sapādaśata� bhedā� /
dvātriṃśadbhedavādinā� tu ṣaṣṭyuttara� śatam /
itaścānye'pi prabhedā� kuśāgriyadhiṣaṇai� svayamudbhāvanīyā�/
&Բ;&Բ;—Rasa-ṅg (of Բٳ) Chapter-II, p-174.