Kuntaka’s evaluation of Sanskrit literature

by Nikitha. M | 2018 | 72,578 words

Hinduism Natyashastra Kavyashastra

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Summary: This essay studies the evaluation of Sanskrit literature with special reference to Kuntaka and his Vakroktijivitam from the 10th century CE, in which he propounds the Vakrokti school of Sanskrit literary criticism. The text discusses the six varieties of figurativeness, namely: 1) Phonetic; 2)Lexical; 3) Grammatical; 4) Sentential; 5) Contextual and 6) Compositional. This study reveals the relevance of Sanskrit poetics in the present time and also affirms that English poetry also bears striking features like six figurativeness propounded by Kuntaka in his Vakroktijivita.

Source 1: exoticindiaart.com
Source 2: shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in

Contents of this online book ( + / - )

The full text of the Kuntaka’s evaluation of Sanskrit literature in English is available here and publically accesible (free to read online). Of course, I would always recommend buying the book so you get the latest edition. You can see all this book’s content by visiting the pages in the below index:

. Introduction (Sanskrit literary criticism)

. Origin and development of Sanskrit poetics

. Kuntaka and Vakroktijīvita

. Review of literature

. Introduction to the Study

+ Chapter 1 - Vakroktijīvita: A Synoptic Survey

. Introduction (Theory of vakrokti)

. 1. Date of Kuntaka

. 2. The concept of vakrokti in earlier poeticians

. 3.1. Purpose of poetry according to Kuntaka

. 3.2. Kuntaka’s definition of poetry

. 3.3. The concept of figures (alaṅkāras) according to Kuntaka

. 3.4. Kuntaka’s views on Rasa

. 3.5. Kuntaka’s concept of sahṛdaya

. 3.6. Styles or Mārgas

. 3.7. Qualities or Guṇas

. 3.8 (a): Phonetic figurativeness or varṇvinyāsa-vakratā

. 3.8 (b): Lexical figurativeness or padapūrvārdha-vakratā

. 3.8 (c): Grammatical figurativeness or pratyaya-vakratā

. 3.8 (d): Sentential figurativeness or vākya-vakratā

. 3.8 (e): Contextual figurativeness or prakaraṇa-vakratā

. 3.8 (f): Compositional figurativeness or prabandha-vakratā

+ Chapter 2 - Kuntaka’s appraisal of Kālidāsa

. 1. Kālidāsa in Kuntaka’s treatment

. 2. Meghadūta in Kuntaka’s treatment

. 3. Raghuvaṃśa in Kuntaka’s treatment

. 4. Kumārasambhava in Kuntaka’s treatment

. 5. Abhijñānaśākuntala in Kuntaka’s treatment

. 6. Vikramorvaśīya in Kuntaka’s treatment

. Conclusion to Chapter 2

+ Chapter 3 - Kuntaka’s estimation of Mahākāvyas of other Poets

. 1. Kirātārjunīya in Kuntaka’s treatment

. 2. Śiśupālavadha in Kuntaka’s treatment

. 3. Harivijaya in Kuntaka’s treatment

. 4. Gauḍavaho in Kuntaka’s treatment

. Conclusion to Chapter 3

+ Chapter 4 - Kuntaka’s evaluation of Sanskrit Plays of other Poets

. 1. Tāpasavatsarāja in Kuntaka’s treatment

. 2. Bālarāmāyaṇa in Kuntaka’s treatment

. 3. Veṇīsaṃhāra in Kuntaka’s treatment

. 4. Uttararāmacarita in Kuntaka’s treatment

. 5. Mālatīmādhava in Kuntaka’s treatment

. 6. Mudrārākṣasa in Kuntaka’s treatment

. 7. Nāgānanda in Kuntaka’s treatment

. 8. Pādatāḍitaka in Kuntaka’s treatment

. 9. Udāttarāghava in Kuntaka’s treatment

. 10. Puṣpadūṣitaka in Kuntaka’s treatment

. 11. Rāghavānanda in Kuntaka’s treatment

. 12. Abhijñānajānakī in Kuntaka’s treatment

. 13. Mahānāṭaka in Kuntaka’s treatment

. Conclusion to Chapter 4

+ Chapter 5 - Kuntaka’s Evaluation of some Stray Verses

. 1. Saduktikarṇāmṛta in Kuntaka’s treatment

. 2. Sūktimuktāvalī in Kuntaka’s treatment

. 3. Śārṅgadharapaddhati in Kuntaka’s treatment

. 4. Subhāṣitāvalī in Kuntaka’s treatment

+ Chapter 6 - Kuntaka’s assessment of Verses Cited in Śatakas and Anthologies

. 1. Sūryaśataka in Kuntaka’s treatment

. 2. Śṛṅgāraśataka in Kuntaka’s treatment

. 3. Amaruśataka in Kuntaka’s treatment

. 4. Bhallaṭaśataka in Kuntaka’s treatment

. 5. Subhāṣitaratnakośa in Kuntaka’s treatment

. 6. Gāthāsaptaśatī in Kuntaka’s treatment

. Conclusion to Chapter 6

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Last Updated: 02 October, 2022

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