Part 5p - Alaṃkāra (16): Viṣama or incongruity

When the qualities or the actions of a cause and its effect are opposed to each other; when an effort fails and some evil result follows; or when there is an association (bringing together or connection) between two things that are incongruous, there is Viṣama.^[1] As for example, the verse, viṣamanayanadṛgbhirañcitāyāṃ^[2] ……..., may be illustrated as an illustration of this figure, as it bears the meaning of incongruity. It has been described in the verse that Kāmadeva, residing in the Aśoka flower gets frightened at the sight of Lord Śiva, at the same time, he becomes free from fear at the sight of Pārvatī. Therefore, as it portays two mutually incongruous things at the same time, hence, the verse under discussion is an example of the figure Viṣama. Some other examples of this figure, found in Śrīkaṇṭhacarita are- itarā kusumaṃ^[3] ……, dīpikā rajanikelikuṅkuma^[4] …….., jyotsnāsthitāvabhisarantyabhikaṃ^[5] ……., kālakūṭamiha nindati^[6] …….., tasminpataṅgakṣaṇadābhujaṅgau^[7]……., rathe’vatasthe divaso^[8] ……., advaitamūrterviśikhena śaṃbhoḥ^[9] ……..