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Handbook of Classical Sanskrit Rhetoric / 229 Image 229 of 262 (Page 173)

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श्लेषः  Śleṣaḥ : Pun or Double Entendre :

√śliṣ a> ghañ = śleṣa literally means combination, juction, union, embrace,
clinging etc. As a figure of speech Śleṣa occurs where some word or
sentence yields two (or sometimes more than two) meanings
through denotation and not by implication or suggestion. It depends
on the duplicity of sense under the unity of sound and works as a play
upon word or meaning. Normally a pun gives two meanings, but
sometimes a successful pun can denote as many as six or seven mean-
ings (as we find it exhibited in some poems composed by post-
Kalidasan epic poets). Śleṣa works upon the similarity of sound of
words whether in inflected or non-inflected position. The words
though similar in sound differ in meaning and give rise to Śleṣa.

Śleṣa or Pun is one of the oldest figures in language and very popu-
lar among all classes of poets. In spite of its extensive use as a very effec-
tive device of literary expression some rhetors in Sanskrit left it
untouched while some others did not define verbal pun but illustrated
what is ideal Śleṣa. Daṇḍin eulogised it as the most successful poetic
device that adds beauty to all types of Vakrokti or Artful Statement. There
is a dispute among rhetoricians whether Śleṣa is purely a figure of
sound or sense (ie scheme or trope) or both sound and sense.
Divisions of Śleṣa :
Two main divisions are--
(i) Pun based on sound (śabda-śleṣa),
(ii) Pun based on sense (artha-śleṣa),
Another principal division is :
(iii) Pun based on both word and meaning (ubhaya-śleṣa)
The first variety may be again twofold:
(a) unbreakable (ie punning in the complete word) and
(b) breakable (a paronomastic word which can be recon-
structed into two or more words having pun
separately).

This śabda-śleṣa or a word having two or more meanings is not
capable of allowing any change for a synonymous word. But in case
of artha-śleṣa substitution with a synonymous word is possible.

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