My presentation on Vakrokti as a theory of language of literature

1. Vakrokti as a theory of language of literature
Presented by: Ranjan P. Velari
Class: M.A. Sem. 2
Paper No.: 7 ( Literary Theory & Criticism)
Enrolment No.: 14101032
email id: ranjanvelari@gmail.com
Guidance: Dr. Dilip Barad
Submitted to: Smt. S. B. Gardi
Department of English
M. K. Bhavnagar University

2.  Theory of Vakrokti
Kuntaka was a Kashmiri Sanskrit poetician and
literary theorist who is remembered for his work
Vakroktijivitam in which he postulates the Vakrokti
Siddhanta or theory of oblique expression, which he
considers as the hallmark of creative literature.
The origin of Vakrokti could be found in Bhamaha’s
“Kavyalankara” and Dandin’s “Kavyadarshan”.
In this theory, Kuntaka wants to convey that a certain
Strikingness of expression is essence of poetry.

3. Kuntaka believes that the beautiful and miraculous in
the poetry is the consequence of Vakrokti.
According to Kuntaka-
“Vakrokti is the source of beauty in Kavya which is
quite opposite to the description of a thing as it is”.
According to Bhamaha-
“Vakrokti as a mode of expression because it is the
fundamental principle of figurative expression”.

4. Dandin defines,
“Vakrokti as a poetic figure accept
svabhavokti”.
Vamana considered,
“Vakrokti as a special poetic figure based
on lakshana”.
Rudrata calls,
“Vakrokti is a particular figures of
speech”.

5. Kuntaka’s Concept of Vakrokti:
Vakrokti is a mode of expression in poetry,
which underlies and forms of all poetic
figures. Therefore, Dandin uses the term
Vakrokti as a almost co-extensive with the
generic term “Alamkara”.
Vakrokti is a felt of skill going beyond the
theory of Anandvardhan’s “Dhvani” because
Kuntaka feels that poetic meaning had not
been properly classified in the Dhvani theory.

6. According to Anandvardhana, there are three
levels of poetry-
i. The best (Dhvanikavya)
ii. The next best (Gunibhuttavyangyakavya)
iii. The bottom grade (Chitrakavya)
According to Kuntaka, definition of poetry is-
“Whatever appeals to a man of test are good
poetry and whatever not is not poetry”.
Vakrokti for Kuntaka is a synonym for the
principle of beauty underlying all kinds of
poetic language.

7. Classification of Vakrokti
Kavivyapar
Source of
Vakrokti
Vaichitrya

8. Six types of Vakrokti
Varna Vinyas
Padapurvardha
Padaparardha
Vakya
Prakarana
Prabandha

9. What is the place of marga and guna in
Vakrokti?
The object of composition determines the
marga (mode).
The three margas, styles-
Sukumara (elegant)
Vichitra (brilliant)
Madhyama (the mixed or intermediate)

10. Six gunas (qualities) are identified in
literary style-
i. Auchitya (propriety)
ii. Saubhagya (splendour)
iii. Madhurya (sweetness)
iv. Prasada (perspicuity)
v. Lavanya (grace)
vi. Abhijatya (classicality)

11. Kuntaka gives importance to the Sabda and
Artha, at the same time he insist on the
presence of Vakrokti in poetry.
“Vakrokti consist of peculiar term given to any
expression due to the skill of the poet”.
Conclusion: According to Kuntaka, Vakrokti
alone does not make poetry. It must delight the
mind of the reader who is responsive to the true
beauty of poetry. Thus the test of Vakrokti is the
contribution to Chamatkara, the aesthetic
enjoyment experienced from composition.