Studies in the History of Sanskrit Poetics v2.c85.62

v2.c85.62

²⁰ It is curious that Vidyādhara follows Bhoja in mentioning as many as twenty-four *guṇas*. The definitions are almost identical in the two authors. The *guṇas* are: (i) *śleṣa*, coalescence of words (owing to the imperceptibility of *saṃdhi*, when it is not harsh to the ear and when the letters belong to the same *sthāna* or organ of pronunciation). (ii) *prasāda*, lucidity arising from carefully selected words which lead to the intended sense at once. (iii) *samatā*, uniformity of diction (rejected by Mammaṭa as being often a defect). (iv) *mādhurya*, distinctness of words (*pṛthak-padatva*) on account of the absence of *saṃdhi*. (v) *saukumārya*, softness of expression due to the use of soft-sounding letters. (vi) *arthavyakti*, clearness of sense due to the completion of a sentence in all its parts, (vii) *kānti*, gracefulness of diction, explained as follows by Ratneśvara : *apratihata-padair ārambhaḥ saṃdarbhasyaiva kāntiḥ......kusumasya dhanur' iti prahatam, 'kausumam' ityaprahatam ; 'jalanidhau' iti prahatam, 'adhijalam' ityaprahatam ; 'gurutvam' it prahatam, 'gauravam' ityaprahatam ityâdi......asti tu tulye'pi vācakatve padānāṃ kaścid ābhyantaro viśeṣo yam adhikṛtya kiṃcid eva prayuñjate mahakavayaḥ, na tu sarvam*. (viii) *audārya*, where the sentence is so arranged with formidable letters (*vikaṭākṣara*) or hard vocables (*vikaṭa*, explained as *kaṭhina-varṇa-saṃghaṭanā-rūpa* by Jagannātha) that the words proceed as if they were dancing (*nṛtyadbhir iva padair yad vākya-racanā*). (ix) *udātta*, the use of praiseworthy epithets (cf *Agni-purāṇa* 345, 9, and see above p. 18, fn 38); Kumārasvāmin notes that it is the absence of the defect known as *anucitārtha*. (x) *ojas*, strength due to the presence of compounds. (xi) *sauśabdya*, elegance in the use of nominal and verbal forms (cf Bhāmaha i 14-15, Rājaśekhara p. 20). (xii) *preyas*, statement of agreeable or flattering things