Word, World, and the Absolute: Raja Rao’s Poetics in the Light of Bhartrihari’s Vākyapadīya

Abstract

Bhartrihari’s Vākyapadiya shapes much of Indian classical thought on speech and language through its concept of sabdadvaita, which posits that the word, the empirical universe, and ultimate existence are one. Here, language is more than just a tool for naming things, it builds what we call ‘real’. From this stance emerges an inquiry into Raja Rao's views on creative expression drawn directly from his writings about literature. Rather than assuming a detached analysis, the discussion unfolds alongside his meditations and poses pertinent questions such as-  How does poetry come to be? By what presence does a poet speak? What drives poetry at its core? Through aligning Raja Rao’s ideas with Bhartrihari’s metaphysics of Word as propounded in the Vakyapadiya, this study presents poetry not merely as art but as a spiritual practice or sadhana, anchored in Sabdabrahman. Instead of treating words as tools, it reveals how Rao draws from the concept of sphoṭa to shape his vision of poetic utterance. Beneath surface speech or Vaikhari lie deeper layers: madhyama, paśyanti, and para, each unfolding toward Silence. The study also incorporates an interpretation of Om through Upanishadic insight as sound merging with boundless reality. It argues that rather than standing apart, ancient Indian thought flows into modern form via Rao’s work.  His voice bridges old frameworks with present-day literature without force or fracture. This fusion has not been successfully achieved by many and warrants critical analysis.