3.10. Use of Dīpaka-alaṃkāra

[Full title: Use of Alaṃkāra in Mudrārākṣasa: Arthālaṃkāras, Sādṛśyamūlaka (or Sādṛṣyagarbha) (7). Dīpaka]

In the words of Viśvanātha Kavirāja when a thing, which is the subject in hand, and another which is not the subject in hand, are connected with the same attribute and also when the same case is connected with more than one verb, the figure there is Dīpaka^[1].

From the viewpoint of aucitya the following is a perfect example of Dīpakālaṃkāra—

svayamāhṛtya bhuñjānā balino’pi svabhāvataḥ/
gajendrāśca narendrāśca prāyaḥ sīdanti duḥkhitāḥ//^[2]

This means that the lord of elephants and mighty kings, though naturally strong, yet have to toil for their livelihood, generally droop in discomfort. Here the act of discomfort is related to both the subject in hand i.e., the king, and the subject which is not in hand, i.e., the lord of elephants. Thus, the figure of speech here is clearly Dīpaka.

Again, another variety of Dīpaka can also be seen in the third act through the speech of Candragupta when he observes about Śrī or Rājalakṣmī thus-“She shrinks from one who is austere: abides not with one who is meek from fear of insult; hates a fool, but bears no love to the most learned either; she feels exceedingly shy of the brave; but scoffs at those who are always timid; the goddess of wealth is very difficult to please like a harlot, who has gained ascendency (over her lover).^[3] Here the figure is noticeably Dīpaka, because here Śrī is related to many verbs. Over and above, III.26, IV.3,4 are some of the good examples of Dīpākalaṃkāra found in Mudrārākṣasa.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

aprastutaprastutayordīpakantu nigadyate/ Sāhityadarpaṇa, X.48

[2]:

Mudrārākṣasa., I.16

[3]:

Ibid., III.5