Visvanatha's Kavyaprakashadarpana (K.P.D.) & Sahityadarpana (S.D.)

Summary

Jagriti Pandya analyses two influential works of Sanskrit poetics authored by the same scholar, Viśvanātha Kavirāja: the Sahityadarpaṇa (S.D.), a comprehensive treatise on poetics, and the Kavyaprakāśadarpana (K.P.D.), his commentary on Mammata’s Kavyaprakāśa. The article outlines the historical context in which Viśvanātha composed these works and notes that he frequently cross‑references S.D. in his commentary, using it to elaborate on topics only briefly mentioned by Mammata. Pandya compares the structure and content of the two works, highlighting areas where Viśvanātha refines earlier theories of rasa, alaṅkāra and dhvani. She notes that while Kavyaprakāśadarpana follows the order of Mammata’s text, it incorporates examples and classifications from Sahityadarpaṇa, thereby creating a dialogue between the two treatises. The essay also examines Viśvanātha’s original contributions, such as his emphasis on the unity of rasa and the hierarchy of poetic qualities. By juxtaposing passages, Pandya demonstrates how understanding both works together provides deeper insight into Viśvanātha’s aesthetic vision and his influence on subsequent literary criticism.