Alamkara-Dappana
By Harivallabh Chunilal Bhayani
Summary
“Alamkāra‑Dappaṇā” continues H.C. Bhayani’s exegesis of a medieval Prakrit treatise on rhetorical figures. Following an earlier instalment published in the previous volume of Sambodhi, this section discusses several figures of speech that involve implied meanings and emotional nuances. Bhayani first outlines the concept of bhāva, explaining how commentators distinguish between types such as guḍha‑bhāva (where a different reply reveals hidden meaning) and anyāpadeśa (where words express one thing and suggest another). He provides Prakrit examples followed by English translations and glosses, demonstrating how poets used ambiguity, punning and layered expression to enrich their verses. The article also examines figures like apahnuti (concealment) and premātisāya (excessive expression of love), illustrating each with textual citations. Bhayani comments on the grammatical and semantic peculiarities of the examples, noting the challenges of translating them into modern languages without losing their subtlety. He stresses that understanding these figures requires knowledge of the cultural context and the oral performance tradition in which they functioned. The article concludes by emphasising the value of the Alamkāra‑Dappaṇā as a source for both linguistic analysis and the study of aesthetic theory in Prakrit literature.
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Conclusion
Bhayani’s continuation of the Alamkāra‑Dappaṇā offers readers insight into the sophisticated rhetorical techniques employed by Prakrit poets. By carefully unpacking examples of hidden meanings and emotional overtones, he demonstrates how the treatise bridges linguistic analysis and poetics. The article calls for further study of such texts to appreciate fully the artistry and intellectual depth of medieval Prakrit literature.