History of Sanskrit Poetics c6.7

c6.7

Dr. De (in H. S. P. vol. I. p. 341) says ‘Undue emphasis appears to have been laid on the use of poetic figures in Vedic Literature by Kane in I. A. XLI, 1912, p. 12cf.’. He is wrong. I put forward my thesis rather briefly and modestly. Therefore, I am obliged to elaborate it here. In the first place, reference must be made to the dialogues in the Ṛgveda, some of which are highly poetic and imaginative and all of which must be regarded as precursors of the later classical dramas. The following dialogues may be referred to: Ṛg. III. 33 (Viśvāmitra and the rivers); X 10 (Yama and Yamī), X. 108 (Sarama and Paṇis); I. 165 and 170 (Indra, Maruts and Agastya); I. 179 (Agastya and Lopāmudrā and pupil); IV. 18 (Indra, Aditi and Vāmadeva); IV. 42 (Indra and Varuṇa); VII. 33 (Vasiṣṭha, his sons and Indra); VIII. 100 (Nema Bhārgava and Indra); X. 28 (Indra and wife of Vasukra); X. 51-53 (Gods and Agni); X. 86 (Indra, Indrāṇī and Vṛṣākapi). Some of these are obscure or enigmatic and one or two like X. 86 are almost unintelligible. Ṛg. X. 119 in a monologue (in which the poet fancies that Indra being intoxicated with Soma offerings muses to himself). Similarly, Ṛg. I. 24 is a soliloquy of in I. 3. 1. 25 and II. 2. 3. 7 (S. B. E. vol. 12 pp. 77, 315) respectively and on महिषी (crowned queen, she-buffalo) in VI. 5. 3. 1 (S. B. E. vol. 41 p. 235).