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196
 
A Handbook of Classical Sanskrit Rhetoric
 
Ruyyaka explains that mere statement of facts or description of
nature may not be charming, therefore, Svabhāvokti is poetically
charming description of the actions of children, women birds, ani-
mals etc who are, by nature, very attractive, effective and pleasing
to all under normal circumstances. For example such statement
includes the common natural phenomena like the timidity of the
deer, bashfulness of girls, simplicity of children, ferocity of beasts etc.
 
This figure is otherwise known as Vārta or Jāti. It is one
of the oldest figurs in rhetoric. Dandin has made a very broad divi-
sion of alamkaras into two sets- Svabhāvokti and Vakrokti (Natural
Description and Artistic Representation). Bhoja adds one more to
it and that is Rasokti (Suggestive Expression). Svabhāvokti, accord-
ing to Dandin, is preferable to all classes of poets, but contrarily
Bhamaha and Kuntaka give all credit to Vakrokti in poetic
diction and value it as the basic principle inherent in all figurative
speech.
 
eg drumāḥ sapuṣpāḥ salilam sapadmam
striyaḥ sakāmāḥ pavanaḥ sugandhiḥ.
sukhāḥ pradoṣā divasāsca ramyāḥ
sarvam priya cãrutaraam vasante.
 
द्रुमाः सपुष्पाः सलिलं सपद्मं / स्त्रिय: सकामा: पवन: सुगन्धिः ।
सुखा: प्रदोषा दिवसाश्च रम्याः / सर्वं प्रिये चारुतरं वसन्ते ॥
 
Trees appear in full bloom, waters lotus-fragrant,
Women full of love, breeze soothing,
 
Evenings charming, days pleasant,
Sweet love, everything is decent in spring.
 
Definitions
 
यथास्वरूपकथनं स्वभावोक्तिः प्रकीर्तिता ।
यथास्वरूपकथनं वार्तेति परिकीर्तितम् ॥ वि. १४.११
नानावस्थं पदार्थानां रूपं साक्षाद् विवृण्वती ।
स्वभावोक्तिश्च जातिश्चेताद्या सालंकृतिर्यथा ॥ का. २.८
अर्थस्य तदवस्थत्वं स्वभावोऽभिहितः । भा. का. २.९३
स्वभाव एव भावानां स्वरूपमभिधीयते । अ. ३४४.३
 
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UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN