Elements poetry in the Mahabharta

by Ram Karan Sharma

This book represents the first attempt of its kind to present a detailed, systematic analysis of the Upamana dharmas (Tertia Comparationis) of the various objects of comparison found in the Mahabharata. It also critically examines the position of the Great Epic as a fascinating specimen of Oral poetic composition abounding, as it does, in the repetitions of the poetic formulae of the various categories. A study of some of the major figures of speech also provides an authoritative material useful for further research of the evolution of Tertia comparison is in the successive stages of Indian literary tradition.

Table of contents:

• Introduction
• Smile (Upama)
• Metaphor (Rupaka)
• Poetic Fancy (Utpreksa)
• Hyperbole (Atisayokti)
• Inference from Circumstances (Arthapatti)
• Antithesis (Virodha)
• Exclusion by Specification (Parisamkhya)
• Miscellaneous Figures
• Idioms
• Figures of Sound (Sabdalamkara)
• Techniques of oral poetry
• Index.

About the Author:

Ram Karan Sharma is a Sanskrit poet and scholar. He was, born in 1927 at Shivapur in Saran district of Bihar. He received an M.A. in Sanskrit and Hindi from Patna University as well as Sahityacharya, Vyakarana Shastri and Vedanta Shastri degrees. He earned a Ph.D. in Linguistics from the University of California, Berkeley, under the guidance of Murray B. Emeneau. Sharma writes in both Sanskrit and English. His literary works include the poetry collections Sandhya, Patheyasatakam and Vina, and the novels, Rayisah and Sima. Elements of poetry in the Mahabharata are considered his most significant work as a critic of Sanskrit literature.

Apart from his literary works he also translated and edited books on Indian medicine, epics, and Puranas. He also contributed research papers in various seminars, journals and books in the field of Ideology. Dr. Sharma is well-known not only in India but also in other countries for his contributions towards Sanskrit literature. The Library of Congress has twenty-one works by Dr. Sharma.