Abstract:

Emotion as உவமப்பொருள் Relation with மெய்ப்பாடு Disparity between பொருள் and உவமை when உவமை is markedly upsized or downsized serves a function. It is a cue to look for the expression of emotion through உவமை. As உவமை conveys meaning, it also conveys emotion (மெய்ப்பாடு) when it is marked. The relation of மெய்ப்பாடு, which is a central element in the performance of drama (நாடக வழக்கு), to உவமை, the device to create meaning in poetry, is the reason, according to commentators (இளம்பூரணர் S 1), to place the chapter on the latter after the chapter on the former. Conveying emotion is a derived function of உவமை, whose primary function is conveying meaning. This is suggested by the phrase மெய்ப்பாடு எட்டன் வழி மருங்கு அறியத் தோன்றும் ‘will appear to make one realize the derivative sense, which is one of the eight மெய்ப்பாடுs’ (S 19). The subjects of ‘will appear’ are the upsizing (பெருமை) and downsizing (சிறுமை) of உவமை in the sutra and they are the instigators of the emotions, which appear derivatively. பேராசிரியர் understands வழிமருங்கு as ‘sometimes’ (that modifies the verb தோன்றும்; எட்டன் is the object of அறிய) and says that upsizing and downsizing of உவமை are not needed all the times to convey emotion through உவமை (அவை (i.e. பெருமையும் சிறுமையும்) பற்றாது மெய்ப்பாடு எட்டும்பற்றி வாளாதே (‘simply’) உவமம் வருதல் செவ்விது). He means that மெய்ப்பாடு does not need to உவமை be marked and its absence is the preferred way. In other words, பெருமை and சிறுமை are optional for உவமை to convey emotion. It does not necessarily deny the fact that expressing emotion by உவமை is not required in every instance.