2023-02-21 17:40:07 by ambuda-bot
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INTRODUCTION
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In all climes and in all ages, Poetry has
been conceived more as an intuitive art
than as otherwise. In India, too, the first
great poem, first because of the production
being the work of the earliest known
human author in Indian Literature and
great because of the unanimous verdict of
posterity, was born of the Poet's innate
pratibha. Valmiki is the earliest poet
known to classical Sanskrit Literature and
has been the pattern to all subsequent
aspirants to the Poet's mantle. The Idea
of the Poem arose in him, not on
account of any external urge to create a
work, but as the expression of the
spontaneous overflow of one of the most
consuming sentiments of the human mind,
the sentiment of karuna or compassion
for the afflicted and the distressed.
In giving expression to the sentiment,
Valmiki's words set themselves to rhythm
and cadence suited to the occasion: and
we have the most beautiful, melodious,
soul-stirring and artistic poem, as the
result.
-(0)
In all climes and in all ages, Poetry has
been conceived more as an intuitive art
than as otherwise. In India, too, the first
great poem, first because of the production
being the work of the earliest known
human author in Indian Literature and
great because of the unanimous verdict of
posterity, was born of the Poet's innate
pratibha. Valmiki is the earliest poet
known to classical Sanskrit Literature and
has been the pattern to all subsequent
aspirants to the Poet's mantle. The Idea
of the Poem arose in him, not on
account of any external urge to create a
work, but as the expression of the
spontaneous overflow of one of the most
consuming sentiments of the human mind,
the sentiment of karuna or compassion
for the afflicted and the distressed.
In giving expression to the sentiment,
Valmiki's words set themselves to rhythm
and cadence suited to the occasion: and
we have the most beautiful, melodious,
soul-stirring and artistic poem, as the
result.