Dhvanyalokalocana 2
English (machine translation) 2
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2.2
Suggestion is the soul of poetry: that which was traditionally handed down by the wise—
some have declared its non-existence, others have said it is metaphorical,
while some have called its reality beyond the realm of words.
Therefore, for the delight of sensitive readers, we explain its true nature. //
2.3
By the wise, who know the essence of poetry, it has been designated that suggestion is the soul of poetry; that which was previously handed down in succession, thoroughly and fully taught and revealed. Even though it shines forth in the minds of sensitive readers, others have declared its non-existence. And these are the alternative views that can be held by those deniers of suggestion:
2.4
Among them, some might say: Poetry has words and meanings as its body. And therein, the causes of beauty residing in words, such as alliteration and the like, are already well known; and those residing in meaning, such as simile and the like, [are also well known]. Those qualities of verbal composition and phonemes such as sweetness and the like are also recognized. The stylistic modes such as the cultured mode and others, which do not exceed them, and which have been expounded by some—they too have come within the range of hearing. And poetic styles such as the Vaidarbhī style and others [are known].
Distinct from these, what is this so-called suggestion?
2.5
Others might say: Suggestion does not exist at all. For a kind of poetry that departs from the well-known tradition loses its status as poetry, since the very definition of poetry is to consist of words and meanings that gladden the hearts of sensitive readers. And that cannot belong to a path that departs from the stated tradition. Nor can the designation of poetry applied to suggestion, having imagined certain sensitive readers belonging to their own circle on the basis of their shared convention, win acceptance from the minds of all learned men.
2.6
Still others would state its non-existence in another way: No novel thing called suggestion is possible at all. For, since it does not transcend beauty, it is necessarily included within the aforementioned causes of charm.
Or, if it is merely giving a novel name to one of them, it would be talking nonsense.
2.7
Moreover, because linguistic varieties are endless, even if some minute variety not demonstrated by the well-known makers of poetic definitions were possible, we do not know the reason why people dance around, shouting 'suggestion, suggestion!', with their eyes half-closed in a false pretense of sensitivity. For thousands of varieties of poetic figures have been and are being revealed by other great souls, and such a state is not heard of in their case. Therefore, suggestion is a mere rumor; its true nature cannot be demonstrated in any way that stands up to scrutiny.
And thus a verse was composed on this very point by another:
2.8
In which there is no subject matter that delights the heart and is adorned with figures,
nor is it composed with polished words, and it is devoid of oblique expression—
when a fool praises that poem with delight, saying 'it is endowed with suggestion',
we do not know what he replies when asked by an intelligent person about the nature of suggestion!
2.9
Others have said it is metaphorical: Others have stated that this soul of poetry designated as suggestion is secondary signification. And although by mentioning the word 'suggestion' no secondary signification or any other variety was revealed by the framers of poetic definitions, nevertheless, assuming that the path of suggestion, though touched upon slightly by showing metaphorical usage in poetry, was not properly defined, it was said: 'others have said it is metaphorical.'
2.10
Some, however, whose intellects shrank from framing a definition, have declared the reality of suggestion to be beyond the reach of words, knowable only to the heart of the sensitive reader. Therefore, while such disagreements exist, we explain its true nature for the delight of sensitive readers.
2.11
For the true nature of that suggestion—which is the esoteric essence of the poetry of all good poets, exceedingly charming, not previously brought to light even by the subtlest intellects among the ancient formulators of poetic definitions, and yet whose operation is well known everywhere in poetic examples such as the Rāmāyaṇa and Mahābhārata—is revealed so that delight may find a resting-place in the minds of sensitive readers who observe it. ||
2.12
There, in order to prepare the ground for that very suggestion which is about to be defined, this is said: