2023-02-15 09:59:16 by ambuda-bot
This page has not been fully proofread.
Citram: The Picturesque
Citra is twofold:
(i)
sabda-citra (based on sound or word) and
(i) artha-citra (based on meaning).
The first variety is either akşara-citra (based on syllables of vocal
and consonantal structure or word-structure) designing verses in
numerous shapes resembling lotus, umbrella, cross, chowry,
pitcher etc, or gati-citra (based on similar devices through drawings
giving shapes of moving patterns like horse, elephant, cow. Such
types of phonetic structure (as we find in alliterative pattern) or
word arrangement (which we find in various patterns of yamaka) are
undoubtedly very attractive, but sometimes excessive patternisation
through phonetic acrobatics or verbal jugglery (such as the use of
single, double or tripple vowels or consonants in successive order)
becomes very dull and montonous.
It is important to note that in Sanskrit literature a variety of
poetic composition (kavya) is termed as citra-kavya which, according
to the critics, is designated as third grade poetry (adhama kavya).
Perhaps this term was first applied to this particular figure of our dis-
cussion and then it was shifted to a class of poetry as a whole, which
was specially cultivated by some epic writers as well as a few over-
enthusiastic poets with the sole intention of exhibiting their skill in
the composition of artful poetry, specially in dealing with Anuprāsa
(Alliteration), Yamaka (Assonance) and Ślesa (Pun). Anandavard-
hana remarked that such type of composition can be called poetry
very loosely and found to be written by ordinary poets. Mammaţa also
says that such composition is very unfortunately called poetry.
eg 1. yamaka-citra or wonder of Assonance:
sa me samāsamo masaḥ sā me māsasamā samā.
yo yātayā tayā yāti yā yāṭyāyātayā layā.
That month seems to me a year,
Which passes when my love is gone;
That year seems to me a month,
Which fades after her return.
2. Wonder of triple consonants:
devānām nandano devo nodano veda-nindanām.
divam duddava nadena dāne dänava-nandinaḥ,
Google
Digitized by
83
Original from
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
Citra is twofold:
(i)
sabda-citra (based on sound or word) and
(i) artha-citra (based on meaning).
The first variety is either akşara-citra (based on syllables of vocal
and consonantal structure or word-structure) designing verses in
numerous shapes resembling lotus, umbrella, cross, chowry,
pitcher etc, or gati-citra (based on similar devices through drawings
giving shapes of moving patterns like horse, elephant, cow. Such
types of phonetic structure (as we find in alliterative pattern) or
word arrangement (which we find in various patterns of yamaka) are
undoubtedly very attractive, but sometimes excessive patternisation
through phonetic acrobatics or verbal jugglery (such as the use of
single, double or tripple vowels or consonants in successive order)
becomes very dull and montonous.
It is important to note that in Sanskrit literature a variety of
poetic composition (kavya) is termed as citra-kavya which, according
to the critics, is designated as third grade poetry (adhama kavya).
Perhaps this term was first applied to this particular figure of our dis-
cussion and then it was shifted to a class of poetry as a whole, which
was specially cultivated by some epic writers as well as a few over-
enthusiastic poets with the sole intention of exhibiting their skill in
the composition of artful poetry, specially in dealing with Anuprāsa
(Alliteration), Yamaka (Assonance) and Ślesa (Pun). Anandavard-
hana remarked that such type of composition can be called poetry
very loosely and found to be written by ordinary poets. Mammaţa also
says that such composition is very unfortunately called poetry.
eg 1. yamaka-citra or wonder of Assonance:
sa me samāsamo masaḥ sā me māsasamā samā.
yo yātayā tayā yāti yā yāṭyāyātayā layā.
That month seems to me a year,
Which passes when my love is gone;
That year seems to me a month,
Which fades after her return.
2. Wonder of triple consonants:
devānām nandano devo nodano veda-nindanām.
divam duddava nadena dāne dänava-nandinaḥ,
Digitized by
83
Original from
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN