Agni Purana — Sahitya-shastra, Shloka 22
Chapter 342: शब्दालङ्काराः
Verbal/Sound-based Ornaments
गोष्ठ्यां कुतूहलाध्यायी वाग्बन्धश्चित्रमुच्यते प्रश्नः प्रहेलिका गुप्तं च्युतदत्ते तथोभयम्
goṣṭhyāṃ kutūhalādhyāyī vāgbandhaścitramucyate praśnaḥ prahelikā guptaṃ cyutadatte tathobhayam
গোষ্ঠীত কৌতূহল জগোৱা বাক্যবন্ধক ‘চিত্ৰ’ বোলা হয়। ‘প্ৰশ্ন’ মানে জিজ্ঞাসা; ‘প্ৰহেলিকা’ মানে ধাঁধা। ‘গুপ্ত’ য’ত অভিপ্ৰেত অৰ্থ গোপন; ‘চ্যুত-দত্ত’ য’ত কিবা সৰাই পিছত যোগ কৰা হয়; ‘তথোভয়ম্’ য’ত দুয়োটাই একেলগে থাকে।
Lord Agni (in narration to sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Alamkara","secondary_vidya":"Natya","practical_application":"Classify and compose citra-verses and riddle-forms for sabhā entertainment, pedagogical contests, and dramaturgical interludes; also for sharpening semantic agility and audience engagement.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Citra, Praśna, Prahelikā and Hidden/Displaced Riddle-Types","lookup_keywords":["citra","praśna","prahelikā","gupta","cyuta-datta"],"quick_summary":"Defines sabhā-oriented verbal wonders (citra) and enumerates riddle/question subtypes: direct question, enigma, hidden-sense (gupta), displaced-then-supplied (cyuta-datta), and a mixed form combining both."}
Alamkara Type: Citra (wonder-verse/wordplay); Prahelikā (riddle) as śābdī-prayoga
Concept: Meaning can be strategically veiled or re-routed through linguistic operations (concealment, displacement), producing cognitive delight and sharpened interpretive skill.
Application: For teaching or performance, present a gupta or cyuta-datta puzzle, then reveal the intended sense to train listeners in śabda-artha discrimination and contextual inference.
Khanda Section: Sahitya-shastra (Kavya-shastra / Alankara and Riddle-forms)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: hāsya
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A lively sabhā where a poet presents a citra-verse and riddles; listeners lean forward, some smiling, as the hidden meaning is teased out on a palm-leaf manuscript.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, temple-hall sabhā with scholars, poet holding palm-leaf, visual symbols for 'hidden' (covered lamp) and 'displaced' (moved letter tiles), warm earthy palette, stylized faces","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, ornate assembly scene with gold-leaf borders, poet presenting a riddle-scroll, attendants reacting with wonder, decorative motifs indicating concealment and revelation","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic layout: panels labeled citra/praśna/prahelikā/gupta/cyuta-datta/ubhayam, teacher demonstrating with letter-cards, clean composition and fine detailing","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, literary salon with carpet and bolsters, poet showing a calligraphed riddle, courtiers debating, subtle humor in expressions, intricate manuscript illumination"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Khamaj","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: वाग्बन्धः = वाक् + बन्धः; वाग्बन्धश्चित्रमुच्यते = वाग्बन्धः + चित्रम् + उच्यते; च्युतदत्ते = च्युत + दत्ते (द्वन्द्व-द्विवचन); तथोभयम् = तथा + उभयम्
Related Themes: Agni Purana 342.23-25 (samasyā/praśna/prahelikā refinements)
FAQs
It teaches technical categories of Sanskrit literary wordplay—citra (wonder-verse), praśna (question), prahelikā (riddle), and subtypes like gupta (hidden sense), cyuta-datta (displaced-and-supplied wording), and their combination.
Alongside ritual, polity, medicine, and warfare, the Agni Purana also codifies kavya-shastra: it preserves formal definitions of riddle-forms and verbal constructions used in learned assemblies, showing its wide coverage of cultural and technical knowledge.
While primarily literary, it supports dharmic learning: mastering refined speech and disciplined expression in assemblies is treated as a component of cultured conduct (sadācāra) and right use of knowledge.