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<headword>विकल्प</headword>
 
विकल्पः
Vikalpaḥ : The Alternative
 
fach
: Vikalpaḥ: The Alternative:
 

 
vi kalpa (√kp a) literally means an alternative, a substitute, doubt or

fancy. In Yoga philosophy, the term vikalpa denotes a type of verbal

knowledge which is literally false, but gives an actual statement of

alternatives (vikalpa-vyavahāra). An example of such statement is

śasa-śṛnga ie the horns of a hare. It signifies that though the hare has

no horns, yet such an expression is really used to denote a kind of

false reality. Vikalpa rhetorically means choice of either between two or

choice of any one among many things of equal merit. Such ornamental

statement expressed through the device of alternatives becomes

charming on account of its alternative choice from two or many

things of identical nature or similar merit. Here the charm of

expression lies in the fanciful idea of similitude. Therefore, when

two or more opposite or contrasting objects are equally forceful as

close alternatives and out of these one is acceptable or qualitatively

comes out successful while the other or others are rejected or

denied, the figure of speech attributed there is Vikalpa. Ruyyaka

says that it is often based on śleșa (paronomasia).
 

 
eg 1. patatyaviratam vāri / nṛtyanti šśikhino mudā
adya kāntaḥ kṛtānto vā / duḥkhasyāntaṃ kariṣyati
.
 
adya kāntaḥ kṛtānto vā / duḥkhyasyāntam karişyati.

पतत्यविरतं वारि / नृत्यन्ति शिखिनो मुदा
 

अद्य कान्तः कृतान्तो वा / दुःखस्यान्तं करिष्यति ॥
 

It's raining non-stop, peacocks with joy dancing
 

Today it would be either my Love or Death ending my suffering.
 

2. häro'yamāroʼyaṃ hariṇākṣīṇām luṭhati stana-maṇḍale.
 

muktānāmapyavastheyam ke vayamṃ ke vayaṃ smara-kimkarāḥ.

हारोऽयं हरिणाक्षीणां लुठति स्तनमण्डले ।

मुक्तानामप्यवस्थेयं के वयं स्मरकिंकराः ॥
 
145
 

On the bosom of the doe-eyed damsels, this necklace rolls,

Such is the plight there of even the pearls;
 

Then who are we there for any bid,
 

Who are merely the servants of Cupid!
 

 
In the first example, it is asserted that during the rainy season

the sorrowful wife being separated from her husband thinks of two
 
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Original from
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN