Rasarnavasudhakara 3.376

3.376

atha gaṇḍam-
gaṇḍaṃ prastuta-sambandhi bhinnārthaṃ sahasoditam ||

Now, an ominous opening (gaṇḍa):
An ominous opening is a phrase spoken abruptly that connects to the matter at hand but has a different meaning.

3.376.p1

177b

3.376.p2

yathā veṇī-saṃhāre-
nirvāṇa-vaira-dahanāḥ praśamādarīṇāṃ
nandantu pāṇḍu-tanayāḥ saha mādhavena |
rakta-prasādhita-bhuvaḥ kṣata-vigrahāś ca
svasthā bhavantu kuru-rāja-sutāḥ sa-bhṛtyāḥ || [ve.saṃ. 1.7]

As in the Veṇīsaṃhāra:
Extinguishing the fire of hostility through the destruction of enemies,
may the sons of Pāṇḍu rejoice together with Mādhava!
And having adorned the earth with their blood, their bodies destroyed,
may the sons of the Kuru king along with their servants be at peace! // [Veṇīsaṃhāra 1.7]

3.376.p3

tatra sūtradhāreṇa nirupadrava-lakṣaṇe' rthe vivakṣite' pi svarga-sthiti-lakṣaṇārtha-sūcakasya rakta-prasādhitaa-bhuva ity ādi-śliṣṭa-vākyasya sahasā prastuta-sambandhitayā bhāṣitatvād gaṇḍam |

There, although the meaning intended to be expressed by the stage manager is free of trouble, because a double-meaning phrase beginning with “having adorned the earth with blood,” which indicates an outcome signifying departure to heaven [i.e., death], was spoken abruptly in connection with the matter at hand, it is an ominous opening (gaṇḍa).