Handbook of Classical Sanskrit Rhetoric /21

Introduction
 
equated with English rhetoric signifying the art of poetry or literature.

The Sanskrit term alamṃkāra is derived thus alam (< aram) √kṛ

ghañ. According to Pāṇinian grammar the word alam becomes

indeclinable (gati) when compounded with √krṛ in the sense of deco-

ration, ornament or embellishment. The word alam is derived form √
ṛ
(aram > alam) meaning to go, move, obtain, display, throw, rise,

place, insert etc. Pāṇini also refers to two meanings of the indeclin-

able particle alam as sufficient and prohibition (paryapti and
āpti and
pratiṣedha). In his list of the collection of verbal roots (dhātu-pātha),

√al belongs to the class √bhū (bhavati etc). Thus the word alamṃ lit-

erally means beauty, ornament, sufficient, adequate, enough, able and

prohibition.
 
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In the Vedic tex
 
In the Vedic texts, numerous verbal and nominal formations

(like aramṃkṛtiḥ, aramṃkṛtaḥ, aramṃkṛṇvatu) have been used in the

sense of service, preparation, making ready etc. Vedic gods are

described to be very fond of wearing ornaments and decorations.

In later Vedic literature, alam √kr has been repeatedly used in
ṛ has been repeatedly used in
numerous forms.
 

 
Classical Sanskrit lexicons read √al as ubhayapadiī (ie having two

sets of verbal forms) giving alati and alate and formulate words like

alaka (hair). But this root seems to be formed hypothetically since

its scope is found to be extremely limited and its application is

rarely found but with only few exceptions like alaka. The

Brāhmaṇas and Upanişads use the term alamṣads use the term alaṃkāra in the sense of

dress and ornament. A folk-etymology has interpreted the word thus :

Why do we call alamṃkāra as alamṃkāra? It is because any woman never

says alam or 'No more do I want' whenever she is offered ornaments and

decorations (ie alamṃkāra).
 

 
What do we mean by the term alamṃkāra? Sanskrit rhetoricians

have defined and explained alamṃkāra thus :
 
Digitized by
 

 
Alamṃkāra is beautification of poetry; any kind of poetic device

giving special charm or embellishment either to the sound or sense
may be called alam
may be called alaṃkāra. Therefore, it is simply an attribuite, orna-

ment, or decoration. Technically it means any type of ordinary or

special poetic device, any striking or unusual configuration of
 
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