Name of college : Maharani shree nandkumarba mahila arts and commerce
Name : Kantariya Riyansi Kishorbhai
Year : S.Y B.A
Semester : 3rd
Subject : English
Paper name : IKS
Date : 25th AUG 2026
Professor : Rachana ma'am
Home Assignment
✿ DHVANI THEORY BY ANANDAVARDHANA
● Introduction
Dhvani Theory is one of the important theories of Indian Poetics. It was systematically expressed by Anandavardhana, a 9th-century Sanskrit poet and exponent of Dhvani. His famous work Dhvanyaloka establishes the idea that the essence or soul of poetry lies in Dhvani, that is, the suggested sense.
The Dhvani theorists held the view that a poem becomes sublime when it contains Dhvani. Thus, poetry is not limited only to its direct or expressed meaning; it can also communicate a deeper suggested meaning.
Anandavardhana presented his theory in Dhvanyaloka, which consists of four chapters called Udyota. The main aim of the work is to establish Dhvani as the soul of poetry.
✧ Meaning of Dhvani
The word Dhvani refers to the suggested or implied meaning that arises beyond the directly expressed meaning.
According to the Dhvani theory, when the expressed meaning becomes secondary and another idea is suggested through the words, that suggested idea becomes important. Thus, the meaning of poetry can go beyond the literal meaning of its words.
☆ In simple words:
Dhvani = Suggested Meaning
Dhvani makes poetry deeper, symbolic and aesthetically meaningful.
✧ Shabda and Artha
Dhvani is closely related to Shabda (word) and Artha (meaning). In the Raghuvansh, Kalidasa compares Shabda and Artha with Shiva and Parvati, showing their unity.
«वागर्थाविव सम्पृक्तौ वागर्थप्रतिपत्तये ।
जगतः पितरौ वन्दे पार्वतीपरमेश्वरौ ॥»
Dhvani can also be understood through the idea of coding and decoding. Words act as the means through which meaning is communicated, while the reader decodes the deeper suggested meaning.
✧ Types of Kavya According to Anandavardhana
☞ Anandavardhana divides poetry into three types according to the presence and importance of suggested meaning:
1. Uttamakavya (Dhvanikavya)
In Uttamakavya, the suggested sense dominates the literal meaning. It is considered the highest form of poetry.
2. Madhyamakavya (Gunibhutavyangya)
In Madhyamakavya, the suggested sense is subsidiary to the literal meaning.
3. Adhamakavya (Citrakavya)
In Adhamakavya, there is no suggested sense. The emphasis is on the expressed form.
Thus, the importance of Dhvani determines the nature of the Kavya.
✧ Functions of Words in Dhvani Theory
☞ Words have three important functions or Vyapara:
Abhidha – Primary Expression
Abhidha gives the direct or literal meaning of a word.
Lakshana – Indication
Lakshana gives an indirect or indicated meaning.
Vyanjana – Suggestion
Vyanjana conveys a suggested meaning beyond the direct meaning.
Therefore:
Abhidha → Direct Meaning
Lakshana → Indirect Meaning
Vyanjana → Suggested Meaning
The IKS material also explains that getting new meanings through the same words is Dhvani and that Dhvani is symbolic.
✧ Meaning Making in Dhvani
Dhvani can be understood through the relationship between direct, indirect and suggested meanings.
Function| Meaning:
Abhidha | Direct / Primary meaning
Lakshana| Indirect / Indicated meaning
Vyanjana | Suggested meaning
The suggested meaning is particularly important in understanding the deeper aesthetic meaning of poetry.
✧ Theory of Sphota
The material also refers to the Theory of Sphota.
Different elements of poetry, when taken together, reveal a deeper meaning to the Sahridaya-spectator. In this way, the reader or sensitive spectator experiences a meaning that goes beyond the individual words.
✧ Important Terms Related to Dhvani
→ The following terms are associated with the process of suggestion:
- Vyanjanak – Suggestive word
- Vyanjakartha – Suggestive meaning
- Vyangyartha – Suggested idea
- Vyanjana Vyapara – Function of suggestion
- Dhvani Kavya – Poetry containing Dhvani
These terms help us understand how a suggested meaning is produced and experienced in poetry.
✧ Types of Dhvani
According to the material, Dhvani can be discussed in three important forms:
1. Vastu Dhvani
In Vastu Dhvani, the suggested sense is in the form of an appealing idea or fact.
2. Alankara Dhvani
In Alankara Dhvani, the suggested sense takes the form of a figure of speech (Alankara).
3. Rasa Dhvani
In Rasa Dhvani, the expressed meaning evokes Rasa, or aesthetic sentiment. It is considered an important form of Dhvani.
→ The IKS material also connects the experience of Rasa Dhvani with the point where word and meaning together produce aesthetic feeling.
✧ Pratiyaman Artha
The concept of Pratiyaman Artha refers to the meaning that becomes apparent or suggested through the poetic expression.
The material presents a distinction between:
☆ Laukika Artha
→ Abhidha
→ Vastu Dhvani / Alankara Dhvani
and
☆ Alaukika Artha
→ Vyanjana
→ Rasa Dhvani
This shows how poetry can move from ordinary expressed meaning towards a deeper aesthetic experience.
✧ Dhvani as the Soul of Poetry
Dhvani gives poetry its deeper aesthetic value. A poem may contain words and their direct meanings, but its beauty becomes richer when those words suggest something beyond what is directly expressed.
Therefore, Dhvani helps the reader experience deeper meaning, symbolism and Rasa in poetry.
In this sense, Dhvani is considered the soul of poetry.
● Conclusion
Dhvani Theory, developed by Anandavardhana, is an important theory of Indian Poetics. Through Dhvanyaloka, Anandavardhana explained the importance of suggested meaning in poetry.
The theory explains the functions of Abhidha, Lakshana and Vyanjana, the different types of Kavya, and the forms of Dhvani such as Vastu Dhvani, Alankara Dhvani and Rasa Dhvani.
Dhvani teaches us that poetry is not understood only through its literal words. Its deeper suggested meaning gives it aesthetic beauty and helps the sensitive reader experience the true essence of poetry.
Class Assignment
✿ VAKROKTI THEORY BY KUNTAKA
✧ Introduction
Vakrokti Theory is an important theory of Indian Poetics associated with Kuntaka. His famous work is Vakroktijivita.
Kuntaka explains poetry through the concept of Vakrokti, which refers to a distinctive or striking way of expression. It is a form of poetic expression that is different from ordinary speech or Loka-varta.
→ The following verse is associated with Kuntaka's explanation of poetry:
शब्दार्थौ सहितौ वक्र कवि व्यापारशालिनि।
बन्धे व्यवस्थितौ काव्यं तद्विदाह्लादकारिणी।
According to this concept, poetry becomes enjoyable to those who are capable of appreciating its true poetic nature.
Vakrokti therefore emphasizes the special and artistic use of language in poetry.
✧ Meaning of Vakrokti
The term Vakrokti means a distinctive, oblique or striking way of expression. It is associated with the idea of वैदग्ध्य भंगी भनिति.
Vakrokti makes poetic expression different from ordinary speech. The poet presents an idea in an artistic and unusual manner, which creates beauty and gives pleasure to the reader.
The important idea behind Vakrokti is that poetry does not merely communicate an idea; the way in which the idea is expressed also contributes to its beauty.
The IKS material describes Vakrokti as an “extraordinary way of expression” and connects it with the poetic use of language.
✧ Vakrokti and Ordinary Speech
According to Kuntaka, Vakrokti consists of statements that are strikingly different from ordinary speech or Loka-varta.
The poet transforms ordinary expression into an artistic expression through a distinctive use of language.
☆ The following Gujarati line is given in the material as an example:
“હું ચાહું છું સુંદર ચીજ સૃષ્ટિની, અને જે અસુંદર કરી મુકું સુંદર ચાહી ચાહી.”
This illustrates the artistic and unusual manner in which a poet can express an idea.
✧ Types of Vakrokti
☞ Kuntaka's Vakrokti Theory is explained through six levels of poetic expression:
1. Varna Vinyasa – The Phonetic Level
2. Pada Purvardha – The Lexical Level
3. Pada Paradha – The Grammatical Level
4. Vakya Vakrata – The Sentential Level
5. Prakarana – The Contextual Level
6. Prabandha – The Compositional Level
✧ Varna Vinyasa – The Phonetic Level
☞ Varna Vinyasa is related to the phonetic level of poetic expression.
It involves the repetition of varna and the musical quality created through sound.
☆ The material gives the following example:
नव कंज लोचन कंज मुखकर कंज पद कन्जारुणम ।
The repetition of sounds creates a musical and artistic effect in the poetic expression.
✧ Pada Purvardha – The Lexical Level
☞ Pada Purvardha belongs to the lexical level.
At this level, the poet creates artistic effect through the choice and use of words.
☆ The following Gujarati examples are given in the material:
“હરિવર મુજને હરિ ગયો મેં તો કઈ હેત કીધું નોતું”
and
“કામિની કોકિલા કેલી કૂજન કરે તને ખોટું ના લાગે તો એક વાત કહું, આજથી તારામાં હું રોજ રોજ રહું.”
→These examples demonstrate the artistic use of words and their arrangement.
✧ Pada Paradha – The Grammatical Level
☞ Pada Paradha is related to the grammatical level of Vakrokti.
At this level, the poetic effect is connected with the grammatical use and arrangement of words.
It shows how the poet's distinctive expression can operate through the grammatical level of language.
✧ Vakya Vakrata – The Sentential Level
☞ Vakya Vakrata belongs to the sentential level.
It involves a miraculous or enchanting description of an object through an artistic sentence or expression.
☆ Examples given in the material:
“To be or not to be, that is the question.”
“સંપ ત્યાં જંપ”
“You too Brutus!”
→ These expressions become striking because of the particular way in which the idea is presented.
✧ Prakarana – The Contextual Level
☞ Prakarana is the contextual level of Vakrokti.
It involves taking a part of a literary work or legend and enlarging it through the poet's own interpretation.
☆ The material gives the following examples:
- Antony's speech in Julius Caesar
- Chakdol Prasang in Malela Jiv
- Viti Abhignan in Abhijnan Shakuntalam
Such a part can become important to the overall literary work. The material states that if such a significant part is removed, the whole work would become meaningless.
✧ Prabandha – The Compositional Level
☞ Prabandha is the compositional level of Vakrokti.
It refers to the one linear meaning of a whole text or literary work.
☆ The material gives the following examples:
1. Ramayan – સદબુદ્ધિ અને લોકકલ્યાણ
2. Mahabharat – દુઃખ સનાતન સત્ય
3. Hitopadesh and Panchatantra – stories
4. Vevisal – માર્ટા મુખે પ્રતીક્ષા નું પાણી
→ Thus, Prabandha considers the overall composition and meaning of a literary work.
✧ The Essence of Vakrokti
The material expresses the essence of Vakrokti through the relationship between sound, sense and poetic activity.
Vakrokti shows how the poet's distinctive way of expression can transform ordinary language into artistic language. This special poetic expression creates delight for those who understand the true nature of poetry.
→ Thus, Vakrokti emphasizes not only what the poet says, but also how the poet says it.
✧ Importance of Vakrokti
Vakrokti is important in Indian Poetics because it explains the artistic character of poetic expression.
☞ Through its six levels, it shows that poetic beauty can arise through:
- Sound and phonetic arrangement
- Choice of words
- Grammatical expression
- Sentence construction
- Context
- Overall composition
Therefore, Vakrokti provides a way to understand the different levels at which a poet can create an artistic and distinctive expression.
● Conclusion
Vakrokti Theory of Kuntaka is an important contribution to Indian Poetics. It emphasizes the distinctive and artistic manner in which a poet expresses ideas.
The theory explains six levels of Vakrokti — Varna Vinyasa, Pada Purvardha, Pada Paradha, Vakya Vakrata, Prakarana and Prabandha.
Through these levels, Vakrokti demonstrates how poetic expression can become different from ordinary speech and create aesthetic pleasure. Thus, the beauty of poetry lies not only in its subject or meaning, but also in the unique manner of its expression.
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