Studies in the History of Sanskrit Poetics v2.c80.81

v2.c80.81

The *alaṃkāra*-system, however, left its undoubted impress on later theories. The *rīti*-systems of Daṇḍin and Vāmana amply recognise its influence by devoting considerable attention to the detailed discussion of various poetic figures; and although no writer after Ānandavardhana seriously contended that the poetic figure is the only element worth considering in poetry, yet all of them acknowledged its importance and assigned to it a place in their system. In spite of the emphasis which they put on *dhvani* and *rasa*, the new school, beginning from Mammaṭa, devoted a large section of its works to the elaboration of various poetic figures, and the *alaṃkāra*-chapter may justly claim to have been a thoroughly worked out theme. Here was given to Indian scholars rich material for subtle distinctions and endless classifications; and with a hair-splitting care, befitting scholastic minds, all kinds of metaphors, similes, alliterations and other figures were minutely analysed and defined. Indeed, the multiplication of limitless varieties of poetic figures, based on minute differences, as well as the making of a large number of sub-varieties of each figure, went on through the whole course of the history of the discipline; and down to the latest times, we find traces of new and ever new poetic figures.