Agni Purana — Sahitya-shastra, Shloka 8
काव्यगुणविवेकः
Examination of the Qualities of Poetry
विशिष्टलक्षणोल्लेखलेख्यमुत्तानशब्दकम् गाम्भीर्यं कथयन्त्यार्यास्तदेवान्येषु शब्दतां
viśiṣṭalakṣaṇollekhalekhyamuttānaśabdakam gāmbhīryaṃ kathayantyāryāstadevānyeṣu śabdatāṃ
Ein Ausdruck, der sich durch Angabe seiner besonderen Merkmale und eindeutigen Hinweise schriftlich fassen/definieren lässt, heißt „uttāna-śabda“ (schlichte, durchsichtige Wortwahl). Gebildete Autoritäten nennen „gāmbhīrya“ (Tiefe) eben denselben Sinn, der jedoch anders „in Worte gefasst“ wird—also durch andere Wörter, indirekt und mit geschichteter Andeutung, vermittelt.
Lord Agni (Agni Purana’s primary narrator) speaking to the sage Vasiṣṭha (contextual attribution for this section of śāstra-teaching)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Alamkara","secondary_vidya":"Philosophy","practical_application":"Choose between uttāna (transparent) and gāmbhīrya (deep/indirect) expression: use explicit definitional wording for instruction, and layered rewording/suggestion for elevated poetry and nuanced meaning.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Uttāna-śabda (plain wording) and Gāmbhīrya (depth via indirect rewording)","lookup_keywords":["uttāna-śabda","gāmbhīrya","lakṣaṇa","vyakti","suggestion"],"quick_summary":"Uttāna wording is that whose meaning can be written/defined by explicit distinctive marks. Gāmbhīrya is the same meaning conveyed through other words with indirectness, producing depth and layered apprehension."}
Alamkara Type: Dhvani/indirect suggestion (conceptual)
Concept: The same artha can be grasped at two levels: explicit definability (uttāna) and profound resonance through indirect wording (gāmbhīrya).
Application: In teaching, prefer uttāna definitions; in kāvya, cultivate gāmbhīrya by controlled indirection, implication, and rephrasing that invites reader participation.
Khanda Section: Sahitya-shastra (Kavya, Alankara, and linguistic/poetic theory)
Primary Rasa: Adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: Shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Two panels: in one, a teacher writes a clear definition with bullet-like marks (uttāna); in the other, a poet presents the same idea through metaphor and layered phrasing (gāmbhīrya), with listeners pondering.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural diptych, left: guru inscribing clear lakṣaṇas on palm leaf, right: poet reciting with subtle gestures, words depicted as deep ocean waves for gāmbhīrya, traditional earthy palette and bold outlines","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, split composition with gold-leaf halo around the ‘deep meaning’ panel, ornate frames labeled uttāna and gāmbhīrya, rich colors, stylized manuscripts and lotus motifs","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional comparison chart aesthetic: left side clean straightforward text blocks, right side layered metaphor imagery, fine detailing, soft pastel background, scholarly setting","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, literary gathering: one scholar reads a plain gloss, another recites an indirect couplet; attentive faces show contemplation; margins filled with delicate calligraphy and subtle symbolic motifs (ocean, mirror)"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: viśiṣṭalakṣaṇa+ullekha+lekhya+m+uttānaśabdakam→viśiṣṭalakṣaṇollekhalekhyamuttānaśabdakam; kathayanti+āryāḥ→kathayantyāryāḥ; tad+eva→tadeva.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Sahitya-shastra sections on guṇa like prasāda and ojas (nearby); Agni Purana treatment of alaṅkāra and guṇa distinctions in the same khanda
FAQs
It imparts poetic-technical knowledge (sāhitya-vidyā): how to distinguish straightforward diction (uttāna-śabda) from the quality of depth (gāmbhīrya) based on how meaning is expressed—directly via explicit defining marks versus indirectly through alternative wording.
Beyond ritual and dharma, the Agni Purana also codifies kavya-śāstra categories (lakṣaṇa, śabda-guṇa). This verse shows the text functioning like a multi-discipline handbook, defining literary qualities with technical criteria.
By promoting disciplined, value-aware speech—clarity when needed and depth when appropriate—it aligns expression with satya and dharma; refined speech is traditionally treated as a purifying practice that supports right understanding and right conduct.