Bitextual work (or bi-textual work) is a form of writing where the same text can have different meanings due to the multiple meanings of the words in the text. It is something in the form of a pun but at a higher intellectual level. This form of literary creations was most popular among Sanskrit litterateurs and, due to the influence of Sanskrit literature, it was also popular among litterateurs of other regional languages in India. In Sanskrit it is known as śleṣa the literal meaning of which is "embrace'. It had its origins in the sixth century CE and it flourished in India until the colonial times. In modern times, the writing of bi-textual poems is looked down upon and is considered as an inferior literary activity.[1][2][3]
The term "bitextual work", or more specifically "bitextual poetry", should not be confused with the term "bidirectional poetry". The latter is a genre of poetry in Sanskrit in which each stanza can be read both from left to right and from right to left, the two readings giving totally different meanings. Rāmakṛṣṇavilomakāvyaṃ of Sūryadāsa (c. 1580) is well known example of this genre of poetry.
- ^ Ruth E. Kott (October 2010). "Language duel". University of Chicago Magazine. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
- ^ Darshi Shah. "Emerging Field of Poetry: Slesa or Bi-textual poetry: 6 Important Insights". www.universitytimes.in. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
- ^ Yigal Bronner (2010). Extreme Poetry: The South Asian movement of Simutaneous Narration. New York: Columbia University Press.
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