नाट्यशास्त्रम् (प्रथम भाग - अभिनवभारती एवं हिन्दी टीका सहित)

-XVII. 53 ] DICTION OF A PLAY 309

Simile

44. When in a poetical composition anything is compared on the basis of some similarity it is [an instance of] Simile (upamā.) It relates to quality and form.

Number of objects compared

45-49. This comparison may be of one with one or many, or of many with one, or of many with many. (Examples of these are as follows): your face is like the moon (one compared with one)¹, stars shine like the moon (many compared with one), having an [²eye like¹ that of a hawk, a peacock and a vulture (one compared with many) ; and elephants are like clouds (many compared with many).

Five kinds of simile

50. Simile is of five kinds, viz. [that of] praise (praśaṃsā), [that of] censure (nindā), [that of] conceit (kalpitā), [that of] uniqueness (sadṛśī. lit. similar looking) and [that of] partial likeness (kiṃcit sadṛśī).

Simile of praise

51. The king was pleased to see that large-eyed lady just as the sages are pleased to see the success incarnate after it has been achieved with austerity.

Simile of censure

52. The woman clung to that rough-looking person devoid of all good qualities just as a creeper clings round a thorny¹ tree which has been [partially] burnt by the forest-fire.

Simile of conceit

53. The Elephants exuding ichor and moving slowly with gracefulness look like mobile mountains.

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44 (C.44; B.XVI.41).
45-49 (C.45-49; B.XVI.42-45). ¹ ekasyānekaviṣayā should be emended to anekasy ekaviṣayā (47b).
² tulyākṣa (ms. na in B.) for tulyārtha (B. C.).
50 (C.50; B.XVI.46). 51 (C.51; B.XVI.47).
52 (C.52; B.XVI.48). ¹ Read kaṇṭakinam for kaṇṭhagatam, C.
53 (C.53; B.XVI.49).