Alankara-kaustubha The Jewel Of Poetics by Kavi Karnapura

In Alankarna-Kaustubha, Kavi Karnapura shows that he deserves a place among the greatest of the greats. This masterpiece is a thorough exposition that not only encompasses the theory in Rupa Gosvami's Ujjvala-nilamani and Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu but also covers all step by his learning and creativity Visvanatha Cakravarti's commentary is included here.

Alankara-kaustubha is a treatise on poetical theory. Kavi Karnapura drew from Kavya-prakasa, Sahitya darpana, Dhvany-aloka and Natya-sastra. He followed the old tradition, incorporated the concepts of prema and bhakti in his own way, and greatly raised the standards of poetry on all levels. Indeed, the artistic genius in his illustrative examples approaches Jayadeva's boldness in Gita-govinda.