The hidden meaning of dhvani poetry: Basic principles of reading applied to a number of Sanskrit lyric poems

Abstract

This article deals with the structure of the poetry of hidden meaning (dhvani), giving a brief review of the key traditional Indian aesthetic values and poetical standards typical of Sanskrit lyric poetry of the classical period. The close-up study of the poetry of hidden meaning allows one not only to admire the hidden and subtle beauty of Sanskrit classical lyric verse but also serves as a step-by-step guideline to the intriguing realm of Indian aethetics in the context of poetry reading. After careful consideration we have chosen a few Sanskrit lyric stanzas suitable for the purpose and picked out of the celebrated “Anthology of Refined Verse” collected by Vidyakara, a Buddhist monk and scholar. All these have been carefully and literary translated into Russian, the translation being followed by detailed commentaries on the meaning and traditional Indian imagery.