3.16. Use of Virodhābhāsa-alaṃkāra

[Full title: Use of Alaṃkāra in Mudrārākṣasa: Arthālaṃkāras, Virodhamūlaka (or Virodha-varga) (2). Virodhābhāsa]

When there is an apparent incompatibility between a genus (jāti) and any of the four beginning with genus (i.e. jāti, guṇa, kriyā and dravya), between a quality(guṇa) and any of the three beginning with quality (i.e. guṇa, kriyā and dravya), between an action(kriyā) and another action or substance (dravya), or between two substances, there is Virodha or Virodhābhāsa.

This alaṃkāra thus got ten varieties. Cf.—

jātiścaturbhirjātyādyairguṇo guṇādibhistribhiḥ/
kriyā kriyādravyābhyāṃ yad dravyaṃ dravyeṇa va mithaḥ
  viruddhameva bhāsate virodho’sau daśākṛtiḥ//^[1]

In act III our dramatist has decorated two verses with Virodhābhāsa-alaṃkāra. Cf.—

“The persons who speak the truth, indulge in words through helplessness and beloud the lord with mouths tired even for qualities, which he does not possess, all that indeed the power of desire. Otherwise to those who are free from desire, a king is an object of disregard like grass.”^[2]

Here, the indulgence of speaking an untruth by the persons who always speak the truth leads to the presence of Virodhābhāsa-alaṃkāra, although the word iva present in the verse gives a tint of Upamālaṃkāra also.

Another example from the same act is verse no-23. Cf.—

bhūṣaṇādyupabhogena prabhurbhavati na prabhuḥ/
parairaparibhūtājñastvmiva prabhurucyate//

In this verse, the term prabhurbhavati na prabhuḥ, gives clear indication of Virodhābhāsa alaṃkāra. Over and above, V.8, VII.4,10 of the present drama are great examples of Virodhābhāsa-alaṃkāra.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Sāhityadarpaṇa, X.67,68

[2]:

stuvanti śrāntāsyāḥ kṣitipatimabhūtairapi guṇeḥ pravācaḥ kārpaṇyādyadavitathavāco’pi puruṣaḥ/ prabhāvastṛṣṇāyāḥ sa khalu sakalaḥ syāditarathā nirihāṇāmīśastṛṇamiva tiraskāraviṣayaḥ// Mudraraksasa,III.16