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THE SŪRYASATAKA OF MAYURA
RHETORICAL DEVICES
In addition to the asis or 'benediction,' already mentioned as a
characteristic of each stanza,¹ I have noted in the Süryaśataka in-
stances of the following figures or devices.
90
First, the rupaka. This is among the most elementary and
oldest devices, and is of more or less frequent occurrence in most
of the so-called classical Sanskrit works. It corresponds most
nearly to our 'metaphor.' As examples of one of the most com-
mon types, there may be cited from the Süryaśataka such com-
pounds as īkṣaṇakamalavanam (stanza 58), 'the lotus-cluster of
thine eyes'; khuramusalāḥ (stanza 61), 'with club-like hoofs';
dhaḥstambhe (stanza 67), 'pillar-shaped axle-pin'; bahulatama-
tamaḥpańka (stanza 79), 'very thick pitchy darkness.'
Another elementary device is the dipaka, or 'illuminator,' which
is said to exist when one noun is found as subject, or object, etc.,
of many verbs, or when one verb is connected with many nouns
in the same case or construction.³ As examples from the
Süryaśataka, take stanza 37, where the dawn-splendor of the
Hot-rayed (Sürya). . . is inferred to be near, because of the
drying up of the moonstones, the dimness of the stars, . . . and
the withering of the plants'; or stanza 81, where 'Ravi (Surya)
is praised by the Siddhas, by the gods, . by the Cāraṇas,
... by the Gandharvas, by the Serpents, ... by the Yātu-
dhānas, ... by the Sadhyas, ... by the Rsis, . and by the
emancipated.'
The śleşa, 'pun' or 'paronomasia,' is of very frequent occur-
rence in the Süryaśataka. In some stanzas only a single word
¹ See above, p. 83. For a definition of the afis, see Kavyādarśa, 2. 357.
2 Johannes Nobel, Beiträge sur älteren Geschichte des Alamkāraśāstra
(Berlin, 1911), p. 9, groups the rapaka, dipaka, yamaka and upama as
among the earliest devices. See also Kavyaprakaśa, 10.6 (92-93), or
in the edition of Jhalakikara, p. 718.
3 See Nobel, as cited in preceding note; and Kavyaprakāśa, 10. 15 (103),
or in the edition of Jhalakikara, p. 775.
On the fleşa, see Kavyaprakaśa, 9.4 (84), or Jhalakikara's edition, p.
615; Kavyadarśa, 2.310 and 2. 363; Vāmana's Kavyalamkārasütrani (ed.
Durgaprasad and Parab, Bombay, 1889), 3. 2.4; and references cited by
Gray, Vasavadattā, introd., p. 17. For Vamana's date (eighth or ninth
century A.D.), see G. A. Jacob, Notes on Alankara Literature, in JRAS,
new series, vol. 29 (1897), p. 288.
RHETORICAL DEVICES
In addition to the asis or 'benediction,' already mentioned as a
characteristic of each stanza,¹ I have noted in the Süryaśataka in-
stances of the following figures or devices.
90
First, the rupaka. This is among the most elementary and
oldest devices, and is of more or less frequent occurrence in most
of the so-called classical Sanskrit works. It corresponds most
nearly to our 'metaphor.' As examples of one of the most com-
mon types, there may be cited from the Süryaśataka such com-
pounds as īkṣaṇakamalavanam (stanza 58), 'the lotus-cluster of
thine eyes'; khuramusalāḥ (stanza 61), 'with club-like hoofs';
dhaḥstambhe (stanza 67), 'pillar-shaped axle-pin'; bahulatama-
tamaḥpańka (stanza 79), 'very thick pitchy darkness.'
Another elementary device is the dipaka, or 'illuminator,' which
is said to exist when one noun is found as subject, or object, etc.,
of many verbs, or when one verb is connected with many nouns
in the same case or construction.³ As examples from the
Süryaśataka, take stanza 37, where the dawn-splendor of the
Hot-rayed (Sürya). . . is inferred to be near, because of the
drying up of the moonstones, the dimness of the stars, . . . and
the withering of the plants'; or stanza 81, where 'Ravi (Surya)
is praised by the Siddhas, by the gods, . by the Cāraṇas,
... by the Gandharvas, by the Serpents, ... by the Yātu-
dhānas, ... by the Sadhyas, ... by the Rsis, . and by the
emancipated.'
The śleşa, 'pun' or 'paronomasia,' is of very frequent occur-
rence in the Süryaśataka. In some stanzas only a single word
¹ See above, p. 83. For a definition of the afis, see Kavyādarśa, 2. 357.
2 Johannes Nobel, Beiträge sur älteren Geschichte des Alamkāraśāstra
(Berlin, 1911), p. 9, groups the rapaka, dipaka, yamaka and upama as
among the earliest devices. See also Kavyaprakaśa, 10.6 (92-93), or
in the edition of Jhalakikara, p. 718.
3 See Nobel, as cited in preceding note; and Kavyaprakāśa, 10. 15 (103),
or in the edition of Jhalakikara, p. 775.
On the fleşa, see Kavyaprakaśa, 9.4 (84), or Jhalakikara's edition, p.
615; Kavyadarśa, 2.310 and 2. 363; Vāmana's Kavyalamkārasütrani (ed.
Durgaprasad and Parab, Bombay, 1889), 3. 2.4; and references cited by
Gray, Vasavadattā, introd., p. 17. For Vamana's date (eighth or ninth
century A.D.), see G. A. Jacob, Notes on Alankara Literature, in JRAS,
new series, vol. 29 (1897), p. 288.