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190
 
A Handbook of Classical Sanskrit Rhetoric
 
सामान्यम् Sāmānyam : Equal :
 
The word sāmānya (samana ṣyañ) literally means equality or sameness
between two or more things. Samāna is recognised as the common
property existing between different objects. As a rhetorical figure
Sāmānya signifes the common relation of two things due to their
basic similarity represented by equal qualities. Here one object or
thing appears as identical with the other on account of close
resemblance. Therefore, it is Sāmānya when two or more things
appear very much identical and no difference whatsoever btween
them is discernible. Such equality is not factual or categorical but
purely based on poetic imagery.
 
The present figure is based on similitude, but there is neither
concealment (as we find it in Apahnuti) nor mistake (as we find it
in Bhräntimän). In Milita the better qualities are superseded by
inferior qualities, but here in Sāmanya both the prastuta (the sub-
ject in hand) and the aprastuta (the standard of comparison) are
equal in quality. Sāmānya is basically a variety of Tadguna.
 
Definitions
 
प्रस्तुतस्य यदन्येन गुणसाम्यविवक्षया
 
ऐकात्म्यं बध्यते योगात् तत् सामान्यमिति स्मृतम् ॥ का. प्र. २०२.१३४
प्रस्तुतस्यान्येन गुणसाम्यादैकात्म्यं सामान्यम् । अ. स. ७२
सामान्यं यदि सादृश्याद् भेद एव न लक्ष्यते । च. ५.३४
साधारणगुणयोगाद् यत्र प्रकृतस्य वस्तु संवलितम् ।
 
न विभावयितुं शक्यं तत् सामान्यं समाख्यातम् ॥ ए. ८.६४
सामान्यं गुणसाम्येन यत्र वस्त्वन्तरैकता । प्र. य. ८.१३४
सामान्यं प्रकृतस्यान्यतादात्म्यं सदृशैर्गुणैः । सा. १०.८९
सामान्यं यदि सादृश्याद् विशेषो नोपलक्ष्यते । कु. १४७
प्रत्यक्षविषयस्यापि वस्तुनो बलवत्सजातीयग्रहणकृतं
तद्भिन्नत्वेनाग्रहणं सामान्यम् । र. ३
 
सार: Sārah : Climax :
 
The word sāra (used both as noun and adjective) means excellence,
supreme, sum and substance etc. When the things to be described are
 
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