Alankar aur Ras
Figures of Speech and Ras in Literary Appreciation
Overview
Alankar (अलंकार) and Ras (रस) form the aesthetic backbone of Hindi, Urdu, and Bengali literature. For Bihar TET Language I, this topic tests your ability to identify literary devices in unseen poetry passages and appreciate the emotional essence of literary works. Questions typically present a couplet or stanza and ask you to name the alankar or identify the dominant ras.
Alankar literally means "ornament" — just as jewellery adorns the body, alankar adorns language and makes it beautiful. Ras, meaning "juice" or "essence," refers to the emotional flavour a literary work evokes in the reader. Bharata Muni's Natyashastra established the classical theory of ras that remains foundational to Indian aesthetics.
Mastery here requires two skills: first, memorising definitions and recognition markers for 8–10 major alankars; second, understanding the nine rasas and their corresponding sthayibhavas (permanent emotions).
Key Concepts
- Alankar (अलंकार) are of two main types: Shabdalankar (sound-based) and Arthalankar (meaning-based). Shabdalankar depends on word sounds; Arthalankar depends on the sense or meaning of words.
- Shabdalankar includes Anupras (alliteration), Yamak (same word repeated with different meanings), and Shlesh (one word with multiple simultaneous meanings).
- Arthalankar includes Upama (simile), Rupak (metaphor), Utpreksha (poetic fancy/hyperbole), Atishayokti (exaggeration), Vibhavana, Manvikaran (personification), and Drishtant.
- Ras has four components: Sthayi Bhav (permanent emotion), Vibhav (cause/stimulus), Anubhav (physical response), and Sanchari/Vyabhichari Bhav (transitory emotions).
- Nav Ras — the nine canonical rasas are Shringar, Hasya, Karun, Raudra, Veer, Bhayanak, Bibhatsa, Adbhut, and Shant. Some scholars add Vatsalya as the tenth.
- Sthayi Bhav is the dominant, enduring emotion that transforms into ras when combined with vibhav, anubhav, and sanchari bhav. Example: Rati (love) becomes Shringar Ras.
- Recognition in exams: For alankar, look for comparison words (jaise, sa, si for Upama), repetition patterns (for Anupras/Yamak), and identification of tenor-vehicle relationships. For ras, identify the prevailing emotional mood.
Key Facts / Definitions
| Alankar | Definition | Recognition Marker |
|---|---|---|
| Anupras | Repetition of consonant sounds | Same consonant appearing repeatedly — "चारु चंद्र की चंचल किरणें" |
| Yamak | Same word repeated with different meanings | Identical word, different sense — "कनक कनक ते सौ गुनी" |
| Shlesh | One word conveying two meanings simultaneously | Single word, dual interpretation |
| Upama | Explicit comparison using jaise/sa/si/tulya | Presence of comparison words — "मुख चंद्रमा सा है" |
| Rupak | Metaphor — direct equation without comparison words | A is B format — "मुख चंद्रमा है" |
| Utpreksha | Imaginative comparison using mano/janu/manahu | "मानो," "जनु," "जानो" present — "मानो चाँद उतर आया" |
| Atishayokti | Extreme exaggeration beyond possibility | Impossible claims — "हनुमान की पूंछ में लगन न पाई आग" |
| Manvikaran | Personification — human qualities to non-human | Nature/objects given human actions |
| Ras | Sthayi Bhav | Example Context |
|---|---|---|
| Shringar | Rati (love) | Romance, union/separation of lovers |
| Hasya | Haas (laughter) | Comedy, humorous situations |
| Karun | Shok (grief) | Tragedy, death, suffering |
| Raudra | Krodh (anger) | Rage, fury in battle/injustice |
| Veer | Utsah (enthusiasm) | Heroism, valour, bravery |
| Bhayanak | Bhay (fear) | Terror, frightening scenes |
| Bibhatsa | Jugupsa (disgust) | Revulsion, grotesque imagery |
| Adbhut | Vismay (wonder) | Amazement, miraculous events |
| Shant | Nirveda (detachment) | Peace, spiritual calm |
Worked Examples
Example 1: Identify the Alankar
Line: "तरनि तनूजा तट तमाल तरुवर बहु छाए"
Solution:
- Notice the repetition of the 'त' (ta) consonant sound throughout
- This is repetition of a single consonant — characteristic of Anupras Alankar
- Specifically, this is Chhekanuprasa (छेकानुप्रास) where one consonant dominates
Answer: Anupras Alankar
Example 2: Identify the Alankar
Line: "पीपर पात सरिस मन डोला"
Solution:
- "मन" (mind) is being compared to "पीपर पात" (peepal leaf)
- The comparison word "सरिस" (like) is present
- Upaman (thing compared) = मन; Upmeya (thing compared to) = पीपर पात; Vachak shabd = सरिस
Answer: Upama Alankar
Example 3: Identify the Ras
Verse: "निसदिन बरसत नैन हमारे, सदा रहत पावस ऋतु हम पर, जब ते श्याम सिधारे"
Solution:
- The context describes continuous weeping after separation from the beloved (Shyam/Krishna)
- Sthayi Bhav = Rati (love), but in the context of Vipralambha (separation)
- The dominant emotion is love in separation
Answer: Shringar Ras (Vipralambha Shringar)
Common Mistakes
- Confusing Upama and Rupak → Upama uses comparison words (jaise, sa, si, tulya, sarisa); Rupak directly equates without such words. "Face is like moon" = Upama; "Face is moon" = Rupak.
- Mixing Yamak and Anupras → Anupras is repetition of consonant sounds; Yamak is repetition of the same word with different meanings. "चमक चमक" (same sound) = Anupras; "कनक कनक" (gold vs datura) = Yamak.
- Confusing Upama and Utpreksha → Utpreksha uses imaginative/supposing words like मानो, जनु, मनहुँ (as if, suppose). If you see "मानो," it is likely Utpreksha, not Upama.
- Identifying Ras by keywords alone → Ras must be identified by the overall emotional effect, not just isolated words. A poem mentioning "sword" is not automatically Veer Ras — context determines the ras.
- Forgetting Sthayi Bhav connection → Each ras has a specific sthayi bhav. Memorise the pairs: Rati-Shringar, Haas-Hasya, Shok-Karun, Krodh-Raudra, Utsah-Veer.
Quick Reference
- Shabdalankar = Sound-based (Anupras, Yamak, Shlesh); Arthalankar = Meaning-based (Upama, Rupak, Utpreksha, etc.)
- Upama has 4 parts: Upmeya (subject), Upman (object of comparison), Sadharma Dharma (common quality), Vachak Shabd (comparison word)
- Nav Ras mnemonic: श्रृंगार, हास्य, करुण, रौद्र, वीर, भयानक, बीभत्स, अद्भुत, शांत — "श्री हक रो वी भय बी अ शां"
- Sthayi Bhav transforms into Ras when Vibhav + Anubhav + Sanchari Bhav combine
- Comparison words for Upama: जैसा, जैसी, सा, सी, सम, सरिस, तुल्य, इव
- Utpreksha markers: मानो, मनु, मनहुँ, जनु, जानो, ज्यों (words implying supposition)