Vakrokti: A Comparative Study in Relation to Modern Linguistics

Abstract

In ancient Indian poetic tradition Vakrokti (obliquity) is considered one of the most important poetic devices which brings about delight in the heart of competent reader. The theorists of alaṁkara tradition included vakrokti among the various types of alaṁkara. Bhāmaha, one of the pioneers of alaṁkara tradition, known for his book Kāvyālaṅkāra, considered vakratā being an inevitable part of atiśyokti alaṁkara. Later on, many other critics also talked about vakrokti but merely taking it under the scope of alaṁkara. Rājanak Kuntaka in his book Vakrokti-jīvita expounded his views on poetic art, and he is of opinion that vakrokti (obliquity) is essential for different kinds of alaṁkara, and said that vakrokti is not a part of alaṁkara but different alaṁkara are parts of vakrokti. In his proposition Kuntaka analyzed poetic language and brought forth division of vakrokti based on linguistic grounds. He minutely observed śabda and artha. His observation in this regard is very much relevant to modern studies in linguistics. He laid emphasis on each and every part of words and meaning. His ideas on poetic language and analysis of morphological and semantic paradigms are quite analogical to linguistics in present time. He has also made some remarkable study in the area of syntax. This paper strives to establish an interdisciplinary approach in evaluating ancient Indian system of poetics from a modern linguistic point of view.

Key word: vakrokti, linguistic, dhvnyāloka, vakroktijivītaṃ, Ācārya Kuntaka.