Agni Purana — Sahitya-shastra, Shloka 4
काव्यगुणविवेकः
Examination of the Qualities of Poetry
सर्वसाधारणीभूतः सामन्य इति मन्यते शब्दमर्थमुभौ प्राप्तः सामान्यो भवति त्रिधा
sarvasādhāraṇībhūtaḥ sāmanya iti manyate śabdamarthamubhau prāptaḥ sāmānyo bhavati tridhā
ما صار مشتركًا بين الجميع يُعَدّ sāmānya (كُلّيًّا/عامًّا). فإذا تعلّق باللفظ (śabda)، أو بالمعنى (artha)، أو بهما معًا، كان الكلّي ثلاثة أقسام.
Lord Agni (teaching to Vasiṣṭha, in the Agni Purana’s instructional dialogue)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vyakarana","secondary_vidya":"Philosophy","practical_application":"Supports semantic analysis in poetics: distinguishes universals as applying to word, meaning, or both—useful for defining categories, tropes, and shared usage.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Sāmānya (Universal) in Word, Meaning, and Both","lookup_keywords":["sāmānya","śabda","artha","ubhayam","tridhā"],"quick_summary":"A universal is what is common to all; it can be classified as pertaining to the word, to the meaning, or to both together—threefold for semantic-grammatical analysis."}
Concept: Universality can be located at the level of linguistic form, semantic content, or their conjunction; analysis must specify the locus.
Application: In defining poetic categories, state whether the generality is in wording (śabda-sāmānya), in meaning (artha-sāmānya), or in both (ubhayasāmānya).
Khanda Section: Sahitya-shastra (Vyakarana & Nirukta / Semantic Theory)
Primary Rasa: Shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Agni explains a threefold schema: three labeled scrolls—śabda, artha, ubhaya—under the heading 'sāmānya', like a semantic map.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Agni pointing to three palm-leaf panels labeled śabda/artha/ubhaya, bold outlines, traditional mural palette, didactic symmetry","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central Agni with gold halo, three gilded plaques representing the triad, ornate borders and rich colors","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clean instructional diagram integrated into a courtly classroom scene, fine lines and soft washes, clear labels on scrolls","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, scholar’s desk with three calligraphed folios (śabda, artha, ubhaya), Agni as sage-teacher, detailed stationery and inkpots"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Hamsadhwani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: Resolved: शब्दमर्थमुभौ→शब्दम् अर्थम् उभौ.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: chāyā sāmānya/vaiśeṣika (previous verse); Agni Purana: subsequent guṇa listings grounded in śabda/artha considerations
FAQs
It teaches a technical semantic classification: ‘sāmānya’ (universal/generality) is defined as what is common to many, and it is analyzed as threefold depending on whether it applies to the word, the meaning, or both.
Beyond rituals and mythology, the Agni Purana preserves śāstric knowledge—here, a compact doctrine from Sanskrit semantics/Nyāya–Vaiśeṣika-style categorization, showing the text’s coverage of language theory and philosophical analysis.
By sharpening correct understanding of word and meaning, the verse supports accurate study, teaching, and recitation of śāstra—reducing error (ajñāna) and aiding disciplined knowledge (jñāna) that is traditionally valued as purifying and merit-producing.