359. ÆSTHETIC CURRENTS IN POETICS 397

ÆSTHETIC CURRENTS IN POETICS 397

Abhinava comments on this and brings the definition of Laksana out of it. And what is more, he cites Bhamaha's verse :- Saişā sarvaiva vakroktiranayartho vibhāvyate. ( K.A. Ch. II. V. 85 ) The fact is that there existed two different readings of the earlier part of the Chapter, dealing with Laksana, The other reading also is given in both the editions. But Ālankārikas like Bhāmaha, have ignored this distinc- tion, and have included almost all Laksanas under the head of Alankara. Further, Bharata, according to Abhinava's interpretation, does not exhaust the list. It would, therefore, be wrong to say that Alankarikas discovered any new Alankara, of which Bharata was ignorant. Hence, they are indebted to Bharata in every way.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LAKSAŅA AND ALAŃKĀRA. The distinction that Bharata has drawn between Lakșana and Alankāra is based on the analytical study of the process of externalisation of poetic vision as well as of that of its apprehension. In reality there is no distinction of Alankara, Guņa, Vrtti and Laksana from one another. In fact Dandin counts some Alankāras under Gunas. But the distinction is assumed to facilitate the production of poetry and its appreciation1. There is a difference of opinion among the analysts, as is evident from Abhinava's reference to them in the course of his commentary on the verse, in which Bharata defines Laksaņa. Abhinavagupta compares the different stages in the production of poetry to those in building up of a palace. According to him, the introduction of Laksanas in poetic

1. A. Bh., Vol. II, 295.