Agni Purana — Sahitya-shastra, Shloka 25
Chapter 342: शब्दालङ्काराः
Verbal/Sound-based Ornaments
द्वयोरप्यर्थयोर्गुह्यमानशब्दा प्रहेलिका सा द्विधार्थो च शाब्दी च तत्रार्थी चार्थबोधतः
dvayorapyarthayorguhyamānaśabdā prahelikā sā dvidhārtho ca śābdī ca tatrārthī cārthabodhataḥ
«پراهِليكا» (اللغز) هو تعبيرٌ تُحجَب ألفاظُه بالنسبة إلى كلا المعنيين؛ ويُصنَّف أيضًا ضمن «دْوِذَارثَ» (ذو المعنيين) وضمن الصنعة اللفظية «شابدِي» (śābdī). وفيه يُدرَك المعنى بحسب المقصود (arthabodhataḥ).
Lord Agni (traditional narrator of the Agni Purana) addressing Sage Vasiṣṭha
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Alamkara","secondary_vidya":"Vyakarana","practical_application":"Guides composition and solving of riddles: craft expressions that conceal wording relative to both intended meanings, and train audiences to infer the intended artha beyond surface ambiguity.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Prahelikā: Concealed Wording, Dvidhārthatā, and Śābdī Classification","lookup_keywords":["prahelikā","dvidhārtha","śābdī","guhyamāna-śabda","arthabodha"],"quick_summary":"A prahelikā is a riddle where the wording is kept hidden with respect to both meanings; it is classed as double-meaning and as a verbal (sound/word-based) figure, to be understood by grasping the intended sense."}
Alamkara Type: Prahelikā (riddle); Dvidhārtha/Śleṣa-adjacent; Śābdī-alaṅkāra classification
Concept: Hermeneutic priority of intended meaning: comprehension arises by moving from ambiguous/veiled śabda to the speaker’s intended artha.
Application: When composing, ensure both candidate meanings are plausible yet the intended one is recoverable via context/clues; when solving, test meanings against contextual fitness (yogyatā) and speaker-intent (tātparya).
Khanda Section: Sahitya-shastra (Alankara and Kavya-lakshana / Poetics and Rhetoric)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: hāsya
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A riddle is presented on a scroll with two shadowy meanings behind it; a scholar points to contextual clues, and the hidden intended sense emerges like a lamp uncovered.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, symbolic concealment: covered oil-lamp and partially veiled manuscript, scholar revealing the lamp, audience in wonder, earthy palette and bold contours","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-leaf halo around a revealed lamp beside a riddle-scroll, ornate borders, figures showing surprise and delight, rich reds and greens","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional scene: teacher explains two meanings with a split-panel diagram, then highlights the intended artha, delicate linework and calm scholarly mood","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, salon with a riddle scroll, two faint illustrative vignettes representing alternate meanings in the margins, central figure indicating the intended one, fine detailing"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: द्वयोरप्यर्थयोः = द्वयोः + अपि + अर्थयोः; गुह्यमानशब्दा = गुह्यमान + शब्दा; तत्रार्थी = तत्र + अर्थी; चार्थबोधतः = च + अर्थबोधतः
Related Themes: Agni Purana 342.22 (prahelikā and gupta/cyuta-datta); Agni Purana 342.24 (praśna taxonomy)
FAQs
It imparts kavya-śāstra (Sanskrit poetics) terminology: defining prahelikā (riddle) as a deliberately veiled expression operating through double meaning and classified among word-based (śābdī) figures.
By codifying literary theory—definitions of rhetorical devices like riddles and double-meaning—the Agni Purana functions not only as a religious text but also as a compendium of classical knowledge systems, including Sanskrit aesthetics and semantics.
While not a ritual injunction, it supports dharmic cultivation through refined speech and correct understanding of meaning—skills valued in śāstra study, teaching, and recitation, which are traditionally regarded as meritorious.