Agni Purana — Sahitya-shastra, Shloka 9
Discrimination of the Qualities of Poetry (Kāvya-guṇa-viveka) — Closing Verse/Colophon Transition
अन्यार्थत्वासमर्थत्वे एतामेवोपसर्पतः मनीषयेति ज सन्दिह्यमानवाच्यत्वमाहुः संशयितार्थतां
anyārthatvāsamarthatve etāmevopasarpataḥ manīṣayeti ja sandihyamānavācyatvamāhuḥ saṃśayitārthatāṃ
إذا عجز المعنى الأوّل (الحرفي) —لأنه يفضي إلى معنى غير مقصود أو يكون غير صالح—فإن المعنى الثانوي الذي يُقصد إليه بالاستنباط السياقي (manīṣā) يُقال إنه يشتمل على «عدم تعيّن في قابلية التعبير الحرفي»؛ ولذلك يسمّونه «المعنى المشكوك» (saṃśayitārthatā).
Lord Agni (teaching the sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa’s encyclopedic instruction)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Alamkara","secondary_vidya":"Vyakarana","practical_application":"Explains how doubtful meaning arises when literal sense fails and a secondary sense is reached by reasoning; useful for distinguishing legitimate lakṣaṇā/vyañjanā from doṣa-causing ambiguity.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Saṃśayitārthatā: doubt from incapacity of primary sense and resort to secondary sense","lookup_keywords":["saṃśayitārthatā","vācya-asamarthya","anyārthatva","manīṣā","lakṣaṇā"],"quick_summary":"When the literal meaning cannot function (or yields an unintended sense), the reader moves toward a secondary meaning through contextual reasoning; if the literal expressibility remains indeterminate, the defect is ‘doubtful meaning’."}
Concept: Meaning arises through rule-governed cognition; when primary meaning is blocked, secondary meaning is accessed, but unresolved indeterminacy is a fault.
Application: Ensure contextual markers (case-relations, qualifiers, intended referent) make the shift to secondary meaning unambiguous; otherwise revise to prevent reader hesitation.
Khanda Section: Sahitya-shastra (Kavya-śāstra) — Semantics and Poetics (Śakti, Lakṣaṇā, Vyañjanā, Doṣas)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A reader at a crossroads signpost: one path labeled ‘vācya’ blocked, another labeled ‘lakṣya’ reached by ‘manīṣā’; lingering fog symbolizes doubtful meaning.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, allegorical crossroads with Sanskrit labels, fog motif around the reader, teacher guiding with a staff, bold outlines and earthy tones","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, ornate signpost with gold leaf inscriptions ‘vācya’ and ‘lakṣya’, blocked gate on one side, luminous guidance on the other, rich decorative borders","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean pedagogic diagram: blocked literal meaning arrow, secondary meaning arrow via manīṣā, minimal background, crisp calligraphy","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, scholar pondering over a folio with marginal notes, faint mist painted around the text to show ambiguity, refined interior setting"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: एतामेवोपसर्पतः = एताम् + एव + उपसर्पतः; सन्दिह्यमानवाच्यत्वमाहुः = सन्दिह्यमानवाच्यत्वम् + आहुः
Related Themes: Agni Purana 346 (Śakti/Lakṣaṇā/Vyañjanā and doṣa discussion cluster); Agni Purana 346.7 (saṃśayitārthatā listed)
FAQs
It imparts a technical rule of Sanskrit semantics/poetics: when the literal meaning fails (asamarthatva) or yields an unintended sense (anyārthatva), interpretation shifts via reasoned context (manīṣā), producing a recognized category of ambiguity (saṃśayitārthatā).
Beyond ritual and mythology, the Agni Purāṇa also codifies kavya-śāstra and semantic theory—here classifying how meaning becomes doubtful when literal denotation is unstable, a topic usually treated in alaṅkāra and nyāya-style interpretation.
It encourages disciplined comprehension of scripture and poetry: avoiding careless literalism and using thoughtful discernment (manīṣā) reduces misinterpretation, supporting right understanding (samyag-jñāna) as a foundation for dharmic conduct.