Bhāmahālaṅkāra

dharmārtha-kāma-mokṣeṣu vaicakṣaṇyaṁ kalāsu ca

dharmārtha-kāma-mokṣeṣu vaicakṣaṇyaṁ kalāsu ca |
karoti kīrtiṁ prītiṁ ca sādhu-kāvya-niṣevaṇam ||
(Bhāmahālaṅkāra: 1.2; cited in Sāhitya-darpaṇa)

“Cultivation [i.e., composition and study] of fine poetry (kāvya) leads to proficiency in dharma, artha, kāma, mokṣa, and the arts, as well as renown and pleasure.”

Read on →

viśiṣṭāḥ śabdā viśiṣṭā arthāś ca militvā kāvyatāṁ yānti

viśiṣṭāḥ śabdā viśiṣṭā arthāś ca militvā kāvyatāṁ yānti |
(Samudra-bandha on Bhāmahālaṅkāra 1.16)

“Special sounds and special meanings come together and become poetry.”

Read on →

śabdārthau sahitau kāvyaṁ gadyaṁ padyaṁ ca tad dvidhā

śabdārthau sahitau kāvyaṁ gadyaṁ padyaṁ ca tad dvidhā |
(Bhāmahālaṅkāra: 1.16)

“Kāvya (poetry) is united sound and meaning. It is of two types: prose and verse.”

Read on →