Kavyalankara of Bhamaha

Perhaps no explanation is needed for bringing out an edition of Bhamaha’s Kavyalankara, though one may be needed for bringing out any work at all on the subject.  For, the subject of poetic criticism depends on the interest which people take in poetry.  This is a practical age and everywhere people manifest very little interest in the study or practice of poetry.  Good poetry is produced, however, here and there and contributes to the real enjoyment of Sahrdayas who, fortunately, have not become extinct.  By such at least, it is hoped that an edition of Bhamaha may be appreciated.  Further, Bhamaha’s claim on our remembrance is very great.  He was one of the earliest critics to systematize Poetic Criticism and present it in a condensed form. That some treatises on the subject should have existed before Bhamaha is clear from the fact that he refers to having discarded portions of his subject matter.