Studies in the History of Sanskrit Poetics v2.c80.40

v2.c80.40

¹⁸ It is true that in one place Bhāmaha speaks of the figure *bhāvika* as the characteristic excellence of a composition as a whole, a view which coincides with that of Daṇḍin, as well as of Bhaṭṭi who illustrates this figure in one whole canto (canto xii). It is defined as the representation of objects, whether past or future, as if they were present, the condition of the representation being that the story or theme must have picturesque, strange and exalted meaning (*citrodāttādbhutārthatvaṃ kathāyāḥ*) and must be capable of being enacted well (*svabhinītatā*), and that the words used must be agreeable (*śabdānukulatā*). But Bhāmaha does not appear to lay any special emphasis on *bhāvikatva* in Poetry, but deals with it as he does with any other poetic figure. No doubt, he speaks of *bhāvika* as a *prabandha-guṇa*, but Bhāmaha does not seem to have made any theoretical distinction between the *guṇa* and the *alaṃkāra* as such, and the word *guṇa* here should not be taken in any technical sense.