Studies in the History of Sanskrit Poetics v2.c85.17

v2.c85.17

⁵ From the new standpoint, Vāmana’s view that the *guṇas* produce the beauty of a poem, while the *alaṃkāras* merely heighten the beauty thus produced, is clearly inadequate. If the doctrine is taken to mean that the possession of all the excellences constitutes poetry, the *gauḍī* and the *pāñcālī* which are not marked by all the *guṇas*, would not be poetical; if, however, the presence of a single excellence is enough to dignify a composition to the rank of poetry, then we are driven to accept even a perfectly unpoetical passage as poetry, if it contains, say, the quality of energy.