Vakrokti as a Theory of language literature

1. Vakrokti as a theory of Language
Literature.
Name : Utsavi Bharatbhai Mori
Roll No : 33
Paper No : 7 Literary Theory & Criticism
Semester : 2nd
Submitted to : 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 oblique expression, which he
considers the hallmark of creative literature.
The origin of vakrokti could be found in Bhamaha’s
“Kavyalankara” and Dandin’s “Kavyalankara”.
In this theory, kunta 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 model 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 apecial 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 underlines 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 left 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, defination of poetry is-
“Whatever appeals to a man of test are good
poetry and whatever note 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
1. Vrana Vinyas
2. Padapurvardha
3. Padaparardha
4. Vakya
5. Prakarana
6. prabandha

9. • What is the place of marga and guna in
Vakrokti?
The three 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
1) Auchitya (propriety)
2) Saubhagya (splendour)
3) Madhurya (Sweetness)
4) Prasada ( perspicuity)
5) Lavanya (grace)
6) 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”.

12. 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 Contribu-
tion to chamatkara, the aesthetic enjoyment
Experienced from composition.