🎵6 Major Figures← View All Alankars

Shabdalankar (Sound-based Devices)Shabdalankar (Sound-based Devices) — Definition, Types & Classic Examples

Poetic figures of speech where aesthetic charm is generated through the phonetics, rhythm, repetition, or play of specific words or phonemes. Replacing the word with a synonym destroys the device.

🎯 Poetic Significance:Creates acoustic resonance, rhythmic melody, and phonological delight.

Figures of Speech under Shabdalankar (Sound-based Devices)

Total 6 Alankars Available
Showing 1–6 of 6 entries
ShabdalankarClass 9-10
#anuprasa

Anuprasa (Alliteration)

अनुप्रास अलंकार

Anuprasa (Alliteration) occurs when the same consonant sound or syllable is repeated successively in a verse, producing acoustic melody and rhythmic charm. The vowels associated with the consonants need not match.

Poetic Line Example:

"चारु चंद्र की चंचल किरणें, खेल रहीं हैं जल-थल में।"

The consonant "ch" recurs in "charu", "chandra", and "chanchal", while "l" recurs in "khel", "jal", and "thal", producing musical resonance.

💡 Recognition Tip:Look for repeated consonant initials or sound clusters throughout the poetic line.
5 TypesFeatures, Types & Examples→
ShabdalankarClass 9-10
#yamaka

Yamaka (Polysemic Repetition)

यमक अलंकार

Yamaka occurs when an identical word appears two or more times in a poetic verse, carrying a completely different semantic meaning in each instance.

Poetic Line Example:

"कनक कनक ते सौ गुनी, मादकता अधिकाय। या खाए बौराय जग, वा पाए बौराय॥"

The word "kanak" occurs twice: first denoting "dhatura" (intoxicating thornapple) and second denoting "gold" (wealth), creating the device.

💡 Recognition Tip:Spot an identical lexical word appearing multiple times with distinct contextual definitions.
Standard CharacteristicsFeatures, Types & Examples→
ShabdalankarClass 9-10
#shlesha

Shlesha (Paranomasia / Pun)

श्लेष अलंकार

Shlesha (Pun) occurs when a single word is used only once in a sentence or verse, yet bears multiple distinct meanings applicable to different subjects in context.

Poetic Line Example:

"रहिमन पानी राखिए, बिन पानी सब सून। पानी गए न ऊबरै, मोती, मानुष, चून॥"

The third instance of "pani" simultaneously means luster/sheen for the pearl, dignity/honor for man, and water for flour.

💡 Recognition Tip:Identify a central word linked to multiple concurrent nouns where it yields a different appropriate sense for each.
Standard CharacteristicsFeatures, Types & Examples→
ShabdalankarClass 11-12
#vakrokti

Vakrokti (Innuendo / Evasion)

वक्रोक्ति अलंकार

Vakrokti occurs when a listener intentionally interprets a speaker's utterance in a twisted or alternative humorous sense through wordplay (Shlesha) or vocal modulation (Kaku).

Poetic Line Example:

"को तुम हौ इत? "आए कहाँ घनस्याम हौ तौ कितहूँ बरसो।""

When Krishna says "I am Ghanshyam (Krishna)", Radha playfully twists "Ghanshyam" to mean "black raincloud", replying "Then go rain somewhere else!"

💡 Recognition Tip:Look for dialogue between two figures where the second twists the literal intended meaning through witty repartee.
Standard CharacteristicsFeatures, Types & Examples→
ShabdalankarClass 9-10
#punaruktiprakash

Punaruktiprakash (Emphatic Repetition)

पुनरुक्तिप्रकाश अलंकार

Punaruktiprakash involves consecutive repetition of a word where both instances retain the exact same semantic meaning, used to intensify poetic emotion, vividness, or rhythmic beauty.

Poetic Line Example:

"मधुर-मधुर मेरे दीपक जल, युग-युग प्रतिदिन प्रतिक्षण प्रतिपल, प्रियतम का पथ आलोकित कर!"

"Madhur-madhur" (sweetly) and "yug-yug" (age after age) repeat with identical senses to amplify emotional yearning.

💡 Recognition Tip:A word repeats back-to-back with zero change in meaning, solely serving emphatic or rhythmic beauty.
Standard CharacteristicsFeatures, Types & Examples→
ShabdalankarClass 11-12
#veepsa

Veepsa (Exclamatory Emotional Repetition)

वीप्सा अलंकार

Veepsa is an expressive poetic device where exclamation-laden words are repeated consecutively to convey overwhelming emotion such as disgust, grief, reverence, or wonder.

Poetic Line Example:

"छिः-छिः! ऐसा घृणित कार्य तुम कर बैठे?"

The exclamation "chhih-chhih" repeats to articulate intense revulsion and moral indignation.

💡 Recognition Tip:Watch for consecutive emotional interjections capturing surprise, revulsion, or deep grief.
Standard CharacteristicsFeatures, Types & Examples→