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REYIEWS 287

MORĘ STUDIES IN SANSKRIT SAHITYA -ŚASTRA, V.M KULKARNI, publishcd by Saraswati Pustak Bhandar, Ahmcdabad, 1993, pp. 211,

Rs. 250/-

Thc book un ^łcr rcvicw is a collcction ol* Dr. V.M. Kulkami*s research papers relating to Sanskrit Literary Crilicism and Aesthetics. As the tille indicates, it is a work complemenlary to his earlier Studics In Sanskrit Sźhritya - S&stra.

Professor Kulkami has covered a variety of subjects such as the Sanskrit Thcory of Bcauty, the topie of Rasa and its naturę, localion, the topie of Dhvani, ete. He is very elear in his understanding and exposition of these two major eoneepts in Sanskrit Poelies. He has discussed the dual naturę of SśttvikabhSvas very critieally referring to the views of Masson and Patwardhan. He has critieally examined Abhinava.’s position and laken notę the views of laler AJamkirikas. The treatment bears testimony to Dr. Kulkami's indcpth study of the original works on aJaihkśra and to his critical judgement.

His critical examination of prthak a/amkśratva bears out his first-hand knowledge

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of the works of such gianls such as Jayaratha, Sobhakara and JagannSlha. In his asscssment of RajaSekhara Kulkami has takcn him to task for his unjustifiablc elaim of bcing the first to diseuss the four types of Plagiarism. Dr. Kulkami is quitc forthright in poinling out how Rajaśekhar has bodily liftcd passagcs on the subjcet from the writings of Anandavardhan!

While dcaling with Hcmaeandra and alaihkara tradition and rasa tradilion Dr. Kulkami lakcs eare to rcfute Kosambfs crilicism whom he could rarther have ignorcd. Actually Hcmaeandra, his disciples Ramacandra and Gunacandra, Narcndraprabha, Gunaratha, Siddhicandra, and the brilliant Abhinavagupta were alt yogis, and we may add the name of the aulhors of ‘Futurę Poetry* and ‘Savitri* - Sri Aurobindo, to these. It rcquires a yogi’s detachment to enjoy poctry and for bccoming a true sahrdaya.

Dr. Kulkami has also considcred the charge of plagiarism levelled against Hcmaeandra. He could have quolcd to support his pica from Abhinavagupla

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also who holds that in Sastra originality lics in presenting the older slulT in newcr lights - ⁴ⁱpurva-pratisthśpita-yojanisu mula -pratistha-phaJam &mananti." Kulkami righlly cvalualcs Hcmacandra's invaluable scrvices. He has in a separate papcr also shown how critics such as Anandavardhana,

Kuntaka and the rest havc talkcd of K2lid2sa in generał and Abhijńśtna -Śakuntala in particular. Hc has rightly dcnounced the stand taken by certain modem critics, who havc unfairly attackcd K&Iid<łsa. It may also be observed that it was not the practice of Sanskrit alanikarikas to wrile critical appreciation of a given work as is done by modem critics whose aclivily looks to us to be a mcre waste of time and words.

Dr. Kulkami has brilliantly brought home the uscfulness of Prakrit Poetry. He has a valuabK suggcstion that scholars should shcd all narrow prejudices