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
Dans une assemblée, une construction verbale qui éveille la curiosité est appelée ‘citra’ (figure/vers merveilleux). ‘Praśna’ est une question ; ‘prahelikā’ est une énigme (devinette). ‘Gupta’ (la forme cachée) est celle où le sens visé est dissimulé ; ‘cyuta-datta’ est celle où quelque chose est déplacé puis fourni ; et ‘tathā-ubhayam’ est celle qui réunit les deux (dissimulation et déplacement).
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.