2023-02-15 09:59:32 by ambuda-bot
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Ślesaḥ : Pun
P: Śleṣaḥ: Pun or Double Entendre :
√śliş a> ghañ = śleșa literally means combination, juction, union, embrace,
clinging etc. As a figure of speech Ślesa 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 succssful 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). Ślesa 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 Ślesa.
Ślesa 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 Ślesa. Dandin 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 Sleșa is purely a figure of
sound or sense (ie scheme or trope) or both sound and sense.
Divisions of Ślesa :
Two main divisions are
(i) Pun based on sound (sabda-śleşa),
(ii) Pun based on sense (artha-ślesa),
173
-
Digitized by
Another principal division is :
(iii) Pun based on both word and meaning (ubhaya-ślesa)
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 sabda-śleșa or a word having two or more meanings is not
capable of allowing any change for a synonymous word. But in case
of artha-śleşa substitution with a synonymous word is possible.
Google
Original from
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
P: Śleṣaḥ: Pun or Double Entendre :
√śliş a> ghañ = śleșa literally means combination, juction, union, embrace,
clinging etc. As a figure of speech Ślesa 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 succssful 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). Ślesa 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 Ślesa.
Ślesa 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 Ślesa. Dandin 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 Sleșa is purely a figure of
sound or sense (ie scheme or trope) or both sound and sense.
Divisions of Ślesa :
Two main divisions are
(i) Pun based on sound (sabda-śleşa),
(ii) Pun based on sense (artha-ślesa),
173
-
Digitized by
Another principal division is :
(iii) Pun based on both word and meaning (ubhaya-ślesa)
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 sabda-śleșa or a word having two or more meanings is not
capable of allowing any change for a synonymous word. But in case
of artha-śleşa substitution with a synonymous word is possible.
Original from
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN