संस्कृतसाहित्ये वाचोयुक्तिविलासः

The lecture, delivered in Sanskrit, explores the concept of ‘vākya-ukti’ (verbal wit) in Sanskrit literature. Dr. Kamakshamma illustrates various figures of speech and idiomatic expressions, such as ‘śaśaka-cumbana-mātra-para’ (one who only kisses the rabbit), ‘pātra-samita’ (one who appears only at mealtime), ‘gṛhe-śūra’ (a hero at home), ‘vraṇa-kṣāra’ (salt on a wound), ‘devānāṃ-priya’ (fool), ‘kūpa-maṇḍūka’ (frog in a well), ‘araṇya-rodana’ (crying in the forest), ‘piṣṭa-peṣaṇa’ (grinding flour), ‘kāka-danta-parīkṣā’ (examining crow’s teeth), ‘goṣṭha-vṛka’ (wolf in the cow pen), ‘maśaka-nāśa’ (destruction of mosquitoes), ‘gaja-snāna’ (elephant’s bath), ‘bhasmanī-bhūta’ (reduced to ashes), ‘śveta-kākīya’ (white crow), ‘ākāśa-māliṅgana’ (embracing the sky), ’lālāṭika’ (one who shows his forehead), ‘pīṭha-marda’ (one who only sits on a seat), ‘akāṇḍa-tāṇḍava’ (untimely dance), ‘gagana-puṣpa’ (flower of the sky), ‘kavaca-vibhrāṇa’ (wearing armor), ‘jīva-sandṛṣṭa’ (bitten by life), ‘musala-kisalaya’ (pestle and sprout), ‘avatapta-nakula-sthita’ (mongoose on a hot path), ‘akṣauhiṇī-prabhāta’ (dawn after a great army), ‘kākolūka’ (enmity between crow and owl), ‘ahinakula’ (snake and mongoose), ‘bhagīratha-prayatna’ (tremendous effort), ‘sugrīvājñā’ (command of Sugriva), ’triśaṅku-sthiti’ (state of Triśaṅku), ‘uttara-pauruṣa’ (subsequent effort), ‘aṅgāra-upagūhana’ (embracing embers), ‘dharma-dhvaja’ (banner of righteousness). She explains the contexts and meanings of each, drawing from classical texts like the Uttararāmacarita and Mukundamālā. The lecture emphasizes the richness and humor of Sanskrit expressions and their relevance to Indian knowledge traditions.