Scribd Logo
Upload

Welcome to Scribd!

  • 16 views

    2021-09-07 Alankara (Upama) Discussion

    Uploaded by

    Boram Lee
    The document provides the definition and an example of the literary device "upamā" or simile in Sanskrit poetry. It first quotes a verse that defines upamā as highlighting the charming similarity between two things compared. It then discusses differing interpretations of the elements of the simile in the example verse, ultimately agreeing with the commentary of Gagabhatta that the two things compared are the quivering of a woman's breasts and some other unstated thing, with the similarity shining forth in the heart.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as TXT, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    2021-09-07 Alankara (Upama) Discussion

    Uploaded by

    Boram Lee
    16 views2 pages
    The document provides the definition and an example of the literary device "upamā" or simile in Sanskrit poetry. It first quotes a verse that defines upamā as highlighting the charming similarity between two things compared. It then discusses differing interpretations of the elements of the simile in the example verse, ultimately agreeing with the commentary of Gagabhatta that the two things compared are the quivering of a woman's breasts and some other unstated thing, with the similarity shining forth in the heart.

    Original Description:

    Copyright

    © © All Rights Reserved

    Available Formats

    TXT, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Did you find this document useful?

    Is this content inappropriate?

    The document provides the definition and an example of the literary device "upamā" or simile in Sanskrit poetry. It first quotes a verse that defines upamā as highlighting the charming similarity between two things compared. It then discusses differing interpretations of the elements of the simile in the example verse, ultimately agreeing with the commentary of Gagabhatta that the two things compared are the quivering of a woman's breasts and some other unstated thing, with the similarity shining forth in the heart.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as TXT, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as txt, pdf, or txt
    16 views2 pages

    2021-09-07 Alankara (Upama) Discussion

    Uploaded by

    Boram Lee
    The document provides the definition and an example of the literary device "upamā" or simile in Sanskrit poetry. It first quotes a verse that defines upamā as highlighting the charming similarity between two things compared. It then discusses differing interpretations of the elements of the simile in the example verse, ultimately agreeing with the commentary of Gagabhatta that the two things compared are the quivering of a woman's breasts and some other unstated thing, with the similarity shining forth in the heart.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as TXT, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as txt, pdf, or txt
    of 2

    MY ORIGINAL READING:

    -----
    उपमा
    -----

    उपमा यत्र सादृश्यलक्ष्मीरुल्लसति द्वयोः।


    हृदये खेलतोरुच्चैस्तन्वङ्गीस्तनयोरिव ॥11॥

    लक्षणम् -
    यत्र द्वयोः (उपमेय-उपमानयोः) सादृश्य-लक्ष्मीः हृदये उल्लसति (सा) उपमा।
    - "upamA" is (that) in which the charming luster of similarity between two things
    (the thing compared and the thing compared to) shines forth in the heart.

    उदाहरणम् -
    उच्चैः खेलतोः तन्वङ्गी-स्तनयोः इव।
    - As of the breasts of a slender-limbed woman quivering intensely.

    उपमेयम् = "द्वयोः सादृश्यम्"


    उपमानम् = "उच्चैः खेलतौ तन्वङ्गी-स्तनौ"
    साधारण-धर्मः = "हृदये लक्ष्मी-उल्लासनम्"
    सादृश्य-वचकम् = "इव"

    -----

    DISCUSSION:

    To continue on this theme of the male gaze, but also because the following sloka
    may come up on the alankara exam tomorrow:

    उपमा यत्र सादृश्यलक्ष्मीरुल्लसति द्वयोः।


    हृदये खेलतोरुच्चैस्तन्वङ्गीस्तनयोरिव ॥11॥

    This gives both the definition and example of उपमा.

    Here, the commentator गागाभट्टः says:


    उपमेयम् = "द्वयोः"
    उपमानम् = "तन्वङ्गी-स्तनयोः"
    साधारण-धर्मः = "हृदये खेलनम्"
    सादृश्य-वचकम् = "इव"

    But I beg to differ. My reading is:


    उपमेयम् = "द्वयोः सादृश्यम्"
    उपमानम् = "उच्चैः खेलतौ तन्वङ्गी-स्तनौ"
    साधारण-धर्मः = "हृदये लक्ष्मी-उल्लासनम्"
    सादृश्य-वचकम् = "इव"

    So, my reading of the sloka is as follows.

    लक्षणम् -
    यत्र द्वयोः (उपमेय-उपमानयोः) सादृश्य-लक्ष्मीः हृदये उल्लसति (सा) उपमा।
    - "upamA" is (that) in which the charming lustre of similarity between two things
    (the thing compared and the thing compared to) shines forth in the heart.

    उदाहरणम् -
    उच्चैः खेलतोः तन्वङ्गी-स्तनयोः [लक्ष्मीः हृदये उल्लसति] इव।
    - As [the charming lustre] of the breasts of a slender-limbed woman quivering
    intensely [shines forth in the heart].
    -----

    MDS:
    You take द्वयोः इत्युक्ते उपमेयोपमानयोः as उपमेय and सादृश्यलक्ष्मीः as सादृश्यधर्म. It is an example of सम्पूर्णोपमा.

    Me:
    Yes, perhaps! I just don't think Gagabhatta's reading works.

    MDS:
    It is ok. His commentary isn't clear enough.

    Me:
    His reading doesn't explain why "khelatoH" is shashthi-vibhakti dvi-vacana,
    agreeing with "-stanayoH".

    MDS:
    "हृदये उच्चैः खेलतोः" इति "तन्वङ्गीस्तनयोः" इत्यस्य विशेषणम्। "हृदये उच्चैः खेलतोः तन्वङ्गीस्तनयोः" इति उपमानम्। द्वयोः(उपमानोपमेययोः) इति उपमेयः।
    सादृश्यलक्ष्मीः इति सादृश्यधर्मम्। "इव" इति उपमावाचकम्। एवं पूर्णोपमा। This is there in his commentary, but not very
    clear.

    Me:
    Yes I saw that earlier. Now, I also see that "khelatoH" agrees not just with "-
    stanayoH", but also with "dvayoH". I am beginning to think his reading could work,
    I will give 10 minutes more to seeing if it can or not.

    Yes, I now agree with you that it makes sense. I like my own interpretation, but
    will certainly be giving Gagabhatta's reading on the exam. Revised notes below.

    उपमेयम् = "द्वयोः"
    उपमानम् = "तन्वङ्गी-स्तनयोः"
    साधारण-धर्मः = "हृदये खेलनम्"
    सादृश्य-वचकम् = "इव"

    लक्षणम् -
    यत्र द्वयोः (उपमेय-उपमानयोः) सादृश्य-लक्ष्मीः उल्लसति (सा) उपमा।
    - "upamA" is (that) in which the charming luster of similarity between two things
    (the thing compared and the thing compared to) shines forth...

    उदाहरणम् -
    [द्वयोः उपमेय-उपमानयोः] हृदये उच्चैः खेलतोः, तन्वङ्गी-स्तनयोः इव।
    - ...(the thing compared and the thing compared to) quivering intensely in the
    heart, like the breasts of a slender-limbed woman.

    On this reading, the thing compared and the thing compared to "quiver intensely in
    the heart" because they produce surprise owing to their astonishing similarity.
    According to Gagabhatta:

    यत्र काव्ये द्वयोः भिन्नयोः सादृश्यलक्ष्मीः चमत्कारजनकं सादृश्यम् उल्लसति।


    "(Upamaa is that) in which the charming lustre of similarity between two different
    things illuminates the astonishing similarity (between them)."

    You might also like