Studies in the History of Sanskrit Poetics v2.c80.11

v2.c80.11

artha (sense)⁴, and the alaṃkāras or poetic figures which adorn these are taken as forming the essential sign of a kāvya. In other words, poetry consists of a verbal composition in which a definite sense must prevail, and which must be made charming by means of certain turns of expression to which the name of poetic figure is given. This general standpoint is implied by Bhāmaha at the very outset in connexion with his general discussion of the two kinds of figures based respectively on word and sense :