Studies in the History of Sanskrit Poetics v2.c79.44

v2.c79.44

As to how these two different series of ten faults are to be distinguished, Bhāmaha says nothing ; but it is conceivable from his treatment that the latter concerns the inner nature or essence of poetry, while the former mentions only such defects as are more or less external. A glance at these two lists of faults, given by Bharata and Bhāmaha respectively, will at once shew that while some of Bhāmaha’s faults correspond generally to Bharata’s in name or in substance, Bhāmaha in his elaborate treatment is certainly ahead of his predecessor. It is also noteworthy that Bhāmaha lays down, in his discussion of the last named fault of śruti-kaṣṭa, the general proposition (i 54) that a particular combination or arrangement sometimes makes even defective expressions allowable ; in other words, a fault sometimes is converted into an excellence. Bharata, on the other hand, regards as we shall see, all guṇas or excellences to be mere negations of doṣas or faults.