Studies in the History of Sanskrit Poetics v2.c84.75

v2.c84.75

This definition of a *śabdālaṃkāra* is adopted by Bhoja, with the only verbal change of the last line into *śabdālaṃkāra-saṃjñās te jñeyā jātyādayo budhaiḥ* (ii 2). Such instances can be easily multiplied, and we may cite for comparison *Agni*. 341, 21, and Bhoja, ii 39; *Agni*. 342, 10 and Bhoja, ii 79; *Agni*, 338, 11, and Bhoja, v 3, etc. Apart from this fact of literal borrowing, which being a common trait in Bhoja is not conclusive, there is a striking coincidence, as we shall see presently, of treatment, as well as agreement of views on fundamental points, which is more than merely accidental. It is not suggested that Bhoja is directly copying from the *Agni-purāṇa*; it is quite possible that they exploit in common an unknown source. But there is hardly any doubt that they follow a common tradition which is different in many respects from that of the Kashmiri writers, although Bhoja, being chronologically later, is more open to the influence of the latter.