Studies in the History of Sanskrit Poetics v2.c81.s1.41

v2.c81.s1.41

Daṇḍin also anticipates Udbhaṭa in pointing out the importance of *śleṣa* as the cause of special charm in other figures (ii 362), and agrees with Bhāmaha in holding that the *atiśayokti* is essential in all poetic figures (ii 220). The term *vakrokti* is used only once and is reserved by him as a collective name of all poetic figures (with the exception of the *svabhāvokti*). According to Daṇḍin’s scheme (as indicated in ii 362), the whole realm of poetic figures can be divided into two distinct parts, consisting of *svabhāvokti*, on the one hand, and *vakrokti*, on the other. By the former, which he characterises as the first or primary figure (*ādyā alaṃkṛtiḥ*), he implies a plain and direct description of things belonging to a genus (*jāti*), or of an action (*kriyā*), of a quality (*guṇa*), or of an individual (*dravya*)¹⁵. In this ‘natural’ description, there is apparently no scope for any artificial or ingenious mode of expression, and it should, therefore, be distinguished from all other poetic devices, figurative or otherwise, collectively designated as the *vakrokti*¹⁶. Among other figures, defined by Daṇḍin for the first time, may be mentioned the *āvṛtti*, *leśa* (= *vyājokti* or *vyāja-stuti*), *sūkṣma* and *hetu* (the last included by Udbhaṭa in his *kāvyaliṅga*). He does not define *ananvaya* and *sasaṃdeha*, calling them *asādhāraṇopamā* and *saṃśayópamā* respectively, and includes *upamā-rūpaka* and *utprekṣāvayava* under *rūpaka* and *utprekṣā* respectively. With Bhāmaha, he alludes to *vārttā* (i 85), which is illustrated by Bhaṭṭi, but which disappears from later Poetics, being included perhaps in the scope of *svabhāvokti*. The *prativastūpamā* is not an independent figure in Daṇḍin but a variety of *upamā*, while the *samāhita* of Daṇḍin is different from the same figure of Udbhaṭa and Vāmana. These few instances would indicate that, compared with the work of his predecessor, Daṇḍin's work attempts to present many new ideas. Possessing great inventive powers and a gift of lucid exposition, as well as a notable degree of scholastic acumen, he endeavoured not only to refute and correct in many places the earlier views, but sometimes gave a new shape to them.