Alankara Kaustubha (The Jewel of Poetics)

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In Alankarna-Kaustubha, Kavi Karnapura shows that he deserves a place among the greatest of the greats. This masterpiece is a thorough exposition that not only encompasses the theory in Rupa Gosvami's Ujjvala-nilamani and Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu but also covers all step by his learning and creativity Visvanatha Cakravarti's commentary is included here.

Alankara-kaustubha is a treatise on poetical theory. Kavi Karnapura drew from Kavya-prakasa, Sahitya darpana, Dhvany-aloka and Natya-sastra. He followed the old tradition, incorporated the concepts of prema and bhakti in his own way, and greatly raised the standards of poetry on all levels. Indeed, the artistic genius in his illustrative examples approaches Jayadeva's boldness in Gita-govinda.

Matsya Avatara Dasa taught Sanskrit grammar for nine years in Vraja: six years in Gopi-parana-dhana Prabhu's Sanskrit school in Govardhana, and three more in Vrinda after Prabhuji's departure. He translated Jiva Gosvami's grammatical treatise Hari-namamrta-vyakarana in full. He also translated and illustrated Rupa Gosvami's Citra-kavitvani, from Stavamala.

Gaurapada Dasa translated Purusa-sukta (with the commentary of Saunaka), Prayuktakhyata-manjari (by Rupa Gosvami), and the tenth book of Bhagavata Purana (A Symphony of Commentaries on the Tenth Canto). In the field of Sanskrit poetics, he translated Bhakti-rasamrta-sesa (the definitions of Sahitya-darpana with examples from Gopala-campu, Govinda-lilamrta, etc. and Baladeva Vidyabhusana's Sahitya-kaumudi (a remake of Kavya-prakasa, with Gaudiya Vaisnava examples). He is also the author of A Versified History of Sanskrit Poetics: The soul is Rasa.

Fine literature is not appreciated by a wicked mortal,
Much like nectar does not go down Rahu's throat,
Whereas such literature is treasured in the heart of a good soul,
Like Hari's chest bears the splendid Kaustubha jewel.

Kavi Karnapura was initially called Paramananda Dasa. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu jokingly called him Puri Dasa (Caitanya-caritamrta, Antya 12.49). Kavi Karnapura received Mahaprabhu's mercy at a young age: The Lord put His big toe in the child's mouth (CC, Antya 12.50). Accordingly, Alankara-kaustubha is a masterpiece of poetical theory. This treatise rivals the greatest works of its kind.

For the most part, Kavi Karnapura followed the methodology of poetical theory expounded by Mammata in Kavya-prakasa, the bibl of Sanskrit poetics. Kavi Karnapura Paraphrased Mammata's definitions of poetical concepts, but he composed all his illustrative examples. On occasion he showed creativity in the theory in the theory as well.

The science of poetics was an essential feature of a classical education. This narrative by Vrndavanan subject in those days:

"By chance the Lord met Mukunda on the path. The Lord held Mukunda's hand and said: "Why do you run away as soon as you see Me? Let Me see how you run away today without answering Me:. Mukunda thought: " How will I defeat Him today? I know that He is well-versed in grammar, so after a while I will question Him on Alankara. I will beat Him so thoroughly that He will never again be proud in my presence." The debate began and they plied each other with questions. The Lord defeated each of Mukunda's explanations. Then Mukunda retorted: "Grammar is for children. Only title boys dwell on this subject. Let us discuss Alankara." "As you wish," replied the Lord. Thereafter Mukunda cited some of the most difficult yet well-known texts of poetical theory and asked questions on different aspects of poetics. The omnipotent Lord Gauracandra then pointed out various faults in the verses. Mukunda was unable to re-establish what the lord had refuted. The Lord smiled and said: "Go home now and study your books carefully. Tomorrow, if you like, we'll discuss this further." (Caitanya-bhagavata, Adi 12.6-16)

The Title
In Sanskrit, many book titles express the concept of shedding light on a topic. Typically, the first word in a title refers to the topic and the second word refers to a thing which sheds light. In the title Alankara-kaustubha, the word alankara is a synonym of sahitya (literature) and kavya (poetics), and the word kaustubha refers to the famous red jewel the Lord wears on His chest. Thus the title literally means "a Kaustubha for poetics".

In Sanskrit poetics, sometimes authors select a peculiar term for "chapter": For example, in Kavya-prakasa, a chapter is called ullasa. Kavi Karnapura uses the term kirana (ray). As a jewel emits rays, so this Kaustubha jewel emits ten rays that illumine ten traditional topics of alankara-sastra (Sanskrit poetics).

Similarly, Baladeva Vidyabhusana entitled his textbooks on poetics Sahitya-kaumudi (a moonbeam for [shedding light on] poetics) and Kavya-kaustubha (a Kaustubha jewel for [shedding light on] poetics), and Rupa Gosvami entitled two of his kavya-related treatises with the names Nataka-candrika (a moonbeam on dramaturgy) and Ujjvala-nilamani (a sapphire for [shedding light on] ujjvala-rasa (madhura-rasa). In other contexts, the term alankara means either literary ornament (chapters 7-8), emotional ornament (5.165). or bodily ornament.

Format
In most classical works on Alankara, the format is threefold: karika (definitional verse) vrtti (elaboration) and udaharana (example). In poetic, a definition is called sutra. Sometimes one kartika contains several sutras. The number of the karika is in parentheses on the right of it. When authors break down one karik into sutras, they mention each sutra separately, with its corresponding elaboration and example. On that occasion, the letters a, b, c and d after a sutra represent the four lines of the karika. In this publication, the numbers of the karakas follow Puri Dasa's numeration scheme. However, all the numbers we give for reference-in the Commentary and in the footnotes-refer to the central number of the text, not to the number of a karika. As for the of treatises which still only have a numeration scheme for karakas, such as Kavya-prakasa and Sahitya-darpana, naturally the reference number denotes the number of a karika.

Contents

	Introduction	9
First Ray	A general description of poetry	15
Second Ray	A disquisition on words, meanings, and literary functions	49
Third Ray	First-rate poetry	129
Fourth Ray	Second-rate poetry	209
Fifth Ray	Rasa	231
Sixth Ray	The qualities	477
Seventh Ray	Ornaments of sound	505
Eighth Ray	Ornaments of meaning	605
Ninth Ray	The styles	849
Tenth Ray	The literary faults	867
Appendix I	The details in each chapter	1023
Appendix II	The ornaments of meaning in alphabetical order	1033

Sample Pages