Studies in the History of Sanskrit Poetics v2.c80.14

v2.c80.14

This passage, also quoted with approval in the *Vakrokti-jivita* (on i 8) and the *Kāvya-prakāśa* vi, is difficult to translate, but the meaning is clear and may be freely rendered thus: "Others regard metaphor and the like to be external ornaments. They postulate that grammatical correctness adorns speech, and call it excellence of language, (implying that) there is no such corresponding correctness of sense. We, however, accept two kinds of ornaments, referring either to word or sense". Daṇḍin, who does not strictly belong to this school but who substantially agrees on this point with Bhāmaha, is more explicit in his statement and lays down (i 10) that the 'body' of poetry consists of a series of words regulated by an agreeable sense.