Agni Purana — Sahitya-shastra, Shloka 17
Chapter 344: Ornaments of Word-and-Meaning (शब्दार्थालङ्काराः)
यत्रोक्तं गम्यते नार्थस्तत्समानविशेषणं सा समासोकितिरुदिता सङ्क्षेपार्थतया बुधैः
yatroktaṃ gamyate nārthastatsamānaviśeṣaṇaṃ sā samāsokitiruditā saṅkṣepārthatayā budhaiḥ
Wo der beabsichtigte Sinn nicht aus dem ausdrücklich Gesagten erfasst wird, sondern durch eine Wendung mit demselben allgemeinen Gehalt, jedoch mit einer spezifizierenden Bestimmung, verstanden wird, erklären die Gelehrten dies als samāsokti, weil es den Sinn in verdichteter Form vermittelt.
Lord Agni (traditional Agni Purana narrator) addressing the sage Vasiṣṭha
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Alamkara","secondary_vidya":"Vyakarana","practical_application":"Recognizing samāsokti (condensed statement) where the intended meaning is inferred via a generally similar expression with a qualifying specification—useful for compact poetic composition and commentary.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Samāsokti (Condensed Expression)","lookup_keywords":["samāsokti","saṅkṣepa","gamyārtha","viśeṣaṇa","alakṣita-artha"],"quick_summary":"Samāsokti is where the intended meaning is not directly stated but is understood through a generally similar expression carrying a qualifying specification, yielding a condensed conveyance of sense."}
Alamkara Type: Samāsokti
Concept: Economy in expression can still yield full meaning when guided by qualifiers and shared understanding.
Application: In writing and teaching, use compact formulations with precise qualifiers to allow the reader to reconstruct the intended meaning without verbosity.
Khanda Section: Sahitya-shastra (Sanskrit Poetics: Alankara and Kavya-śāstra definitions)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A scribe compresses a long explanation into a short aphoristic line; beside it, a fuller meaning unfolds like a scroll, showing ‘saṅkṣepa’ expanding in the reader’s mind.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, scribe with palm-leaf writing a short line, behind him a stylized unfurling scroll motif representing expanded meaning, earthy palette, bold contours","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold-highlighted short inscription on palm leaf, with decorative scrollwork emerging to symbolize condensed meaning, rich reds, temple-like frame","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, diagrammatic before/after: long statement reduced to compact samāsokti, fine lines, clear labels, subdued elegant colors","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, calligrapher writing a brief couplet while an assistant holds a longer draft, detailed paper textures, refined margins, intellectual studio setting"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Hamsadhwani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: यत्र+उक्तम्→यत्रोक्तम्; न+अर्थः→नार्थः; तत्+समानविशेषणम्→तत्समानविशेषणम्; समासोक्तिः+उदिता→समासोक्तिरुदिता.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 344 (alaṅkāra-lakṣaṇa series)
FAQs
It teaches a technical principle of Kavya-śāstra: the figure samāsokti—communicating an intended sense indirectly through a closely related expression with a qualifier, achieving semantic condensation (saṅkṣepa).
Beyond ritual and dharma, the Agni Purana preserves formal definitions from Sanskrit literary theory, showing its scope as a compendium that includes poetics, rhetoric, and grammatical-linguistic analysis.
While not a ritual injunction, it supports dharmic transmission by refining correct and elegant expression—helping preserve śāstra, teach effectively, and communicate meaning precisely with disciplined brevity.