History of Sanskrit Poetics c6.52

c6.52

8 The definition of poetry (काव्यलक्षण). Numerous definitions of *kāvya* have been offered by several writers; many of these definitions are affected by the author's view about the essence of poetry. Some of the definitions are no more than mere descriptions. The definitions of a few writers, particularly early ones, treat शब्द and अर्थ as equally prominent, while others give more prominence to शब्द; some give a definition of काव्य which is more difficult than the thing to be defined (such as that of विश्वनाथ 'वाक्यं रसात्मकं काव्यं'). An attempt will be made to group together some of these definitions. The following lay equal emphasis on शब्द and अर्थ 'शब्दार्थौ सहितौ काव्यं' (भामह I. 16; vide also I. 11 and 13 for काव्य being निर्दोष and सालङ्कार); 'ननु शब्दार्थौ काव्यं' रुद्रट III. 1; 'शब्दार्थौ सहितौ वक्र०' वक्रोक्तिजीवित (p. 227 above); 'तददोषौ शब्दार्थौ सगुणावनलङ्कृती पुनः काप' मम्मट; गुणालङ्कारसहितौ शब्दार्थौ दोषवर्जितौ ।... काव्यं काव्यविदो विदुः ॥ प्रतापरुद्रीय०; 'शब्दार्थौ निर्दोषौ सगुणौ प्रायः सालङ्कारौ काव्यम्' काव्यानु० of वाग्भट p. 14; 'अदोषौ सगुणौ सालङ्कारौ च शब्दार्थौ काव्यम्' हेमचन्द्र p. 16; vide वामन's वृत्ति on I. 1. I. Other writers lay more emphasis on शब्द. 'तैः शरीरं च काव्यानामलङ्काराश्च दर्शिताः । शरीरं तावदिष्टार्थव्यवच्छिन्ना पदावली ॥'