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Campu: An Experiment in Free Style Composition

By D. G. Vedia

Vol. 14February - 1990pp. 49–56English

Summary

D. G. Vedia’s Campu: An Experiment in Free Style Composition explores the Sanskrit literary form campu, which blends prose and verse. Mixed compositions arose from Vedic dialogues and Upanisads and resurfaced in Buddhist Jataka tales, the Mahabharata and Puranas. Dandin first classified campu as a distinct genre. Vedia argues that campu is a free‑style form that resists rigid classification and is the most popular among mixed compositions. The author discusses various subtypes such as karambhaka, ghosana and danapatra and offers multiple derivations of the word campu. Some scholars derive it from terms meaning poetic charm, movement or breathing, suggesting that campu allows readers respite from continuous prose. The interplay of prose and verse provides pleasure akin to music or adolescence blossoming into youth. Vedia concludes that campu is an experimental genre rooted in ancient literature that continues to invite innovation.

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Conclusion

Vedia presents campu as a flexible literary form originating in early Indian literature and later embraced in epics and Puranas. Combining prose and verse, campu provides readers with aesthetic relief and has become the most popular mixed composition. Its etymology and subtypes highlight the genre’s experimental nature and enduring appeal.

Key passages

Chosen by AI from the article's text. Each one is checked word for word against the text before it is shown.

  • “Close examination of the views of Campi authors, rhetoricians and scholars reveals that Campi is nothing but an experiment in free style of Sanskrit literary form.”
  • “Thus, only intermingling of prose and verse remains the chief peculiarity of camhpi”

Works cited in this article

  1. Agnipurana 337/8; kavyadaréa 1/11; Sarasvatikanthabharana 2/18
  2. M. krishnamachariar
  3. Hemachandracharya's Kavyanudasana 8/9 & Vagbhata's Kavya : 1
  4. Sirkar : Selected inscriptions bearing an Indian History and civilization, Vol. I. pp. 254-260.
  5. Ramayanacampi : Bala V. 3.

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In this issue

Vol. 14
1–6A Glimpse of Medical Recipes of the JainasJ. C. Sikdar1–40શાબરભાષ્યગત ભાષાવિચારNarayan M. Kansara1–6चित्तौड़गढ़ - कीर्तिस्तम्भ के 'नानाविषयविषयम्Neelima Agarwal1–12ReviewsV. M. Kulkarni7–11Historical Survey of Vaisesika LiteratureS. D. Jhala7–12महापुराण और भागवत में भरतचरितHarnarayan U. Pandya13–23Origin and Development of the SattakaChandramouli S. Naikar13–20विपाकसूत्र और अवदान-शतक का तुलनात्मक अध्ययन पारुल मांकडParul N. Mankad13–20અવલીકનRamesh S. Betai21–26Farewell to the DepartedUmakant Premanand Shah21–53मध्यकालीन गुजराती काम कथानक - एक अध्ययनHasu Yajnik24–36Art of Life as Propounded in Bhagwad‑GitaJayaben R. Betai27–29Review29–37ગુજરાતી ભાષાનું ઐતિહાસિક વ્યાકરણMahendrakumar A. Dave37–40Character of CandrapidaVijay Pandya41–47Tirthas in the Kandula PuranaS. K. Dave41–62પાણિનિય વ્યાકરણમાં લાઘવસિદ્ધિVasantkumar M. Bhatt49–56Campu: An Experiment in Free Style CompositionD. G. VediaCurrent article57–64Women Organizations and National Awareness in IndiaUsha Bhatt63–76રોમૅન્ટિસીજમ અને વ્યંગ્યRamesh S. Betai65–75Jain InstitutionsKumarpal Desai76–81Duti-YagaB. N. Shastri77–80જૈન સુરિશન્ય વિતરાગસ્તુતિMadhusudan Dhanki81–89શસ્ત્ર-ચિકિત્સાની પ્રાચીનતાPragnya Thakkar83–90Bhasarvaji’s Definition of Anumana – An ObservationLaxman V. Joshi91–104Upanisadic Influence on Mahayanasutralankara of AsangaYajneshwar S. Shastri91–97વૈકો કિત – વૈદન્યમભજ્જી ભાગિતિAruna K. Patel99–111જૈન દર્શન અને સંસ્કૃત ભાષાAmrut Upadhyay105–107Two Unique Images Of Brahmshanti-YakshaP. C. Parikh109–118Indian Theory of LiteratureHarivallabh Chunilal Bhayani113–121ઈશ્વર' શબ્દ – ઉત્પત્તિ અને વિકાસBharti D. Savan119–128Aesthetic Distancing In Sanskrit DramaB. K. Thakkar123–126મધ્યકાળમાં ગુજરાતનું સંસ્કૃત લલિત સાહિત્યમાં પ્રદાન– એક રૂપરેખાNagin G. Shah127–129પુરાતત્ત્વાચાર્ય મુનિશ્રી જિનવિજયજી : જીવન અને કાર્યRamnik Shah129–144Sumantra – The Rare Expression in Ancient Indian AdministrationSudarshan Kumar Sharma145–152Vedic Numerations and the Genesis of Arabic NumeralsNarayan M. Kansara

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