Handbook of Classical Sanskrit Rhetoric /22

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words or phrases or sentences or meaning. Such devices have been
significantly compared either to external decorations or internal
qualities of the body of poetry. A Handbook of Classical Sanskrit Rhetoric
 
words or phrases or sentences or meaning. Such devices have been
significantly compared either to external decorations or internal
qualities of the body of poetry. Alamlaṃkāra is beauty (saundarya), or

grace (sśobhā) or charm (carutaārutā) or taste of aesthetic delight

(camatkāra).
 

 
While making an anatomical survey of poetry Sanskrit rhetori-

cians have analysed it thus : Word and meaning make the body of

poetry, figures of speech are its ornaments and decorations, poetic

embellishments (gunṇas) are virtues, organic style (riīti) is its symme-

try, harmony and proportion, while rasa or the state of blessed
delightfulness through aesthetic contemplation is its soul.
 

delightfulness through aesthetic contemplation is its soul.
 
In the same way the modern western critics also have almost

repeated the same ideas: Language is but the apparel of poetry.

Ornaments are compared to flowers, jewels or embroidery or even the crim-

son taint... laid upon a lady's lips. Style is an organic whole, ... not the
clothes a man
clothes a man <error>weares</error> ,<fix>wears</fix>, but flesh and bone of his body, ... health to body and
soul.
 

soul.
 
The term figure of speech means any deviation, either in thought

or expression, from the ordinary and simple method of speaking.
 

 
After taking into consideration the various aspects of the use of

figurative language Sanskrit rhetoricians have defined alamṃkāra as

follows:
 

 
In literary art, embellishments of sound and sense are the

decorative ornaments of beautification. -- Bharata

Alamṃkāras are the decoratiive designs of poetry. -- Dandin
ṇḍin
Figures of speech are the artistic representation of word and

meaning. Any art of poet's expression turns to be its

beautification. -- Bhāmaha
 
-
 

 
Alamṃkāra is beauty; any type of ornamentation of sound and
sense is alam
sense is alaṃkāra. -- Vāmana
 

 
Literary qualities (or gunṇas) are the permanent accessories of

poetry while the rhetorical figures are the instruments for the

artistic representation of word and meaning. -- Mammaṭa

 
Any figure of speech is a variety of artful diction or striking

mode of expression (ie vakrokti). -- Kuntaka
 
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UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN