In this episode, Prathik charts the intellectual history of art and the genealogy of 'poetics', i.e. the philosophy of what good poetry is, how it is composed, and how poetry can even be defined. Revanth is introduced to the meaning of Rasa in Bharata Muni and exposed to the debate between the Alankarikas and the wonderful Dhvani theory of Anandavardhana. The episode is as rasabharita (juicy) ride as poetry itself. We of course at the near-end ask why must one even read literature.
[The cover art is inspired Mammata's poem that Prathik recites two kick-start the show, lauding the exceptional powers of the Kavi, poet]
Do read Moriz Winternitz's History of Indian Literature, Vol III for an overview of Kavya Literature. (https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.499822)
