khandakavya

Khandakavya is a term in classical Indian literary criticism that designates a class of kavya (ornamental poetry) known as a short epic. The word khandaka literally means a 'section' or 'part,' reflecting its sectional, episodic construction.

Compared with the longer mahakavya, a khandakavya enacts a narrative in a relatively small number of cantos (khandas) and tends to concentrate on a single plot arc or a defined sequence of episodes. Its style blends elevated diction, ornate metaphor (alamkara), and vivid description to evoke specific rasas (emotional flavors), often through dramatic scenes, lyrical moments, and scenic depiction. The emphasis is on compact narrative skill and aesthetic effect rather than expansive, panoramic development.

In classical Sanskrit poetics, the category is discussed by theorists such as Mammata in the Kavya-prakasha, where rough criteria separate khandakavya from mahakavya by length, scope, and narrative organization. The classification also persists in later criticism and is used to describe a range of shorter epics in Sanskrit as well as in regional literatures.

While not as numerous as mahakavya, khandakavyas were composed on mythological, romantic, or historical themes and could function as self-contained narratives or as episodes within larger narrative frameworks. The genre remains a standard term in studies of kavya and Indian poetics.