343. THE TOPICS OF THE SASTRA 345

THE TOPICS OF THE SASTRA 345

together and their conncction with each other will be briefly pointed out. The first problem of Poetics is to declare what poetry can do for us and for the poet also (i.e. to enumerate the प्रयोजनs of काव्य). Then the sastra has to consider the essential qualities that constitute the equipment of a poet (i. e. arorg has to be considered). A definition of kāvya is attempted. In defining a kāvya, refcrence is generally made to śabda and artha and one has also to say what constitutes the soul or the essence of kavya (which makes ary what it is). It is here (about the soul of poetry) that the greatest divergence of view prevails. As śabda and artha are necessary for kāvya, the various powers of word and its relation to artha have to be discussed. This leads to the topic of the three वृत्तिs, अभिधा, लक्षया and aTs and their sub-divisions and the three kinds of artha, वाच्य, लच्ष्य and व्यक्ष्य. The critic has to give the several divisions of kāvya from different stand-points, viz. into Tu, qu and fax (according to the external form), into the best, mediocre and inferior kvya according to the predominance or otherwise of the most essential things in a kāvya, into ay and or, into na, siaa etc. (according to the language employed) and so on. The division into ara and goy opens up the vast field of dramaturgy. Certain gunas must always be present. As to their number (3, 10, 24 etc.) great difference of opinion prevails. As allied to this subject of gunas, the various dictions (rītis) have to be considered. A kāvya must be free from blemishes and ther fore the dosas of pada, vākya, artha, rasa etc. have to be discussed. Lastly, certain embellishments of kāvya (either of sabda, artha or of both) are dealt with. Certain works on Poetics go beyond this and lay down practical rules (as to the conventions to be observed by poets) and give information of an encyclopaedic character (e. g. about geography, about flora and fauna etc.). It is by no means to be supposed that all or even many works on Poetics attempt the treatment of all these topics. The works on Poetics fall into several groups. (1) Some like the साहित्यदर्पण and the प्रतापरुद्रयशोभूषण traverse the whole field of Poetics (including dramaturgy). (II) Most of the well- known works on Poetics confine themselves to the topics indi- cated above except dramaturgy e.g. the काव्यादश, the काव्यालक्कार- सूत्र of वामन, काव्यालक्कारs of भामह, रुद्रट and वाग्भट, the काव्यप्रकाश,