2021, Vol. 7, Issue 3, Part B

author(s)
Dr. Subhasree Dash and Chandini Dalai

abstract
Out of four Vedas (Ṛg, Yajus, Sāma, Atharva) Ṛgveda is the most ancient literary treasure of mankind. As an embodiment of various branches of knowledge this may be approached to trace the genesis of poetry and poetics. This article explores the Ṛgvedic education to the ‘poets in making’ by interpreting its various poetic utterances (mantras). The language of poetry and poetics is understood from the use of various figures of speech, metaphorical linguistic constructs, suggestions, virtues of metrical skill, refined speech and musical notes which have taught the generations of poets the difference between universal poetic composition (Kāvya) and ordinary human communication (vārtā).