Part 5e - Alaṃkāra (5): Yamaka or repetition (rhyme)

The figure Yamaka occurs in the repetition of vowels and consonants in the same order, but with a different meaning.^[1] According to Bharata^[2], Yamaka is the exercise of words. Maṅkhaka employs the figure Yamaka rarely. His use of this figure is easy and thus, it does not make the meaning unintelligible. Maṅkhaka refrains from too much and artificial employment of this figure. The use of Yamaka gives melody and rhythm to his words, which he himself declares in canto XII of the Śrīkaṇṭhacarita, that the above cited verses of the 12^th canto becomes melodious and rhythmic, due to the use of Yamaka.^[3] In the verse, kasya ca diśati^[4] ….., it has been stated that the moon whose retinue are the stars, gives delight to everybody and that the moon even throws up the sea-water, towards the sky, during tide.^[5] Herein, we find that there is the repetition of parivāraḥ and pari vāraḥ, respectively in the second and the fourth quarter. The same letters are repeated here in the instance, but the meaning in the first case is the retinue or paraphernalia, whereas in the second case, it means the act of throwing seawater up, towards the sky. Hence, though the same letters are repeated here, the two words convey two different meanings, and thus, it is a case of the figure Yamaka. Some other instances^[6] of the figure Yamaka are also, found in the Śrīkaṇṭhacarita.