188. 210 ON CHAPTER IVVAMINSA

210 ON CHAPTER IVVAMINSA

THE PRESENCE OF THE SUGGESTED MEANING IN THE bna ivaw EARLIEST POETIC PRODUCTION. Every theory is based on facts, which it tries to explain. The facts exist even when their existence is not recognised. The exponents of the theory of the suggested meaning, maintain that the fact, of which they talk, has been the most important in all poetic productions from the earliest times, though it was not recognised by early literary critics. And, what is more, its existence, even when pointed out by later critics, was denied by those who followed the earlier school of literary criticism. The Ramayana by common consent is admitted to be the earliest work of classical Sanskrit. Its author, Valmīki, therefore, is recognised to be the first writer of the classical poetry. In fact he himself narrates in the Bālakāņda of the Ramayana, the incident which was responsible for the poetic inspiration and consequent utterance in well formed metre. It is as followes :- Once Valmiki went to the river, Tamasa, for his mid-day bath. He was pleased at the sight of clear water. He took the bark-garment from his pupil, who was carrying it, and began to walk in the beautiful forest. As he1 was roaming about in the forest, he saw a couple of birds, called Kraunca in Sanskrit. It was mating season for them. They were, therefore, enjoying amorous sport. As the sage stood gazing at this interesting sight, Lo! there came an arrow from behind and killed the male bird. What a bad luck ! What a terrible shock to the surviving female ! But what could she do ? The intensity of grief at this sudden change of fortune and her state of utter helpless- ness, changed her twitter into shriek. The pleasant sight was, in a moment, changed into a pathetic one. The 1. V. R., 172, 4-15.