Agni Purana — Sahitya-shastra, Shloka 6
Arthālaṅkāras (Ornaments of Meaning): Definitions, Taxonomy, and the Centrality of Upamā
उपमा नाम सा यस्यामुपमानोपमेययोः सत्ता चान्तरसामान्ययोगित्वेपि विवक्षितं
upamā nāma sā yasyāmupamānopameyayoḥ sattā cāntarasāmānyayogitvepi vivakṣitaṃ
L’upamā (similitude) est la figure où, à propos de l’upamāna (terme de comparaison) et de l’upameya (objet comparé), on vise leur relation réciproque : la présence d’une propriété commune intérieure (attribut partagé), même si une telle communauté peut, en général, être possible entre eux.
Lord Agni (traditional narrator of the Agni Purana, instructing Vashistha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Alamkara","secondary_vidya":"Vyakarana","practical_application":"Define and identify Upamā (simile) in poetry and refined prose by checking upamāna–upameya linkage through an intended shared attribute (sādhāraṇa-dharma).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Upamā-lakṣaṇa (Definition of Simile)","lookup_keywords":["upamā","upamāna","upameya","sādhāraṇa-dharma","alaṅkāra-lakṣaṇa"],"quick_summary":"A simile arises when the poet intends a relation between upamāna and upameya grounded in an internal shared property, whether or not such similarity could exist generally."}
Alamkara Type: Upamā
Concept: Intended meaning (vivakṣā) governs poetic cognition: similarity is not mere possibility but a willed semantic relation via a common property.
Application: When composing or interpreting, verify (1) upameya, (2) upamāna, (3) intended shared dharma; avoid forced comparisons lacking vivakṣita-sāmānya.
Khanda Section: Sahitya-shastra (Alankara-shastra / Sanskrit Poetics)
Primary Rasa: Adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: Shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A learned ācārya points to two objects—one the upameya and one the upamāna—while highlighting a glowing shared attribute (dharma) connecting them, like a thread of meaning.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, scholar-teacher seated with palm-leaf manuscript, two symbolic objects on either side labeled upameya and upamāna, a luminous band showing sādhāraṇa-dharma, earthy reds and greens, flat iconic composition.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, ornate frame with gold leaf, central seated guru holding manuscript, two medallions showing upameya and upamāna, gold-highlighted connecting motif representing shared dharma, rich jewel tones.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, clean linework and soft shading, instructional tableau with labels for upamāna/upameya, subtle halo-like connector for common attribute, calm scholarly setting.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly scholar in a library, delicate calligraphy margins, two illustrated objects with a fine line linking them, emphasis on analytical gesture and textual annotation."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Raga Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: यस्याम् + उपमानोपमेययोः → यस्याम् उपमानोपमेययोः; उपमानोपमेययोः resolved as उपमान-उपमेययोः (समाहार-द्वन्द्व, षष्ठी द्विवचन). च + अन्तर... → च अन्तर...; योगित्वे + अपि → योगित्वेऽपि.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 343.7-343.10 (classification and markers of upamā); Agni Purana Sahitya-shastra sections on alaṅkāra-lakṣaṇa and doṣa/guṇa (nearby chapters)
FAQs
It imparts kavya-shastra (poetics) knowledge: the technical definition (lakṣaṇa) of upamā—how a simile functions through an intended shared attribute linking upamāna and upameya.
Alongside rituals, polity, and other sciences, the Agni Purana also systematizes literary theory; this verse is part of its formal treatment of alaṅkāras, showing the text’s coverage of Sanskrit aesthetics and rhetoric.
Indirectly, it refines sacred communication: mastering precise poetic expression supports clearer transmission of dharma and devotion in hymns, praises, and didactic narration, enhancing the efficacy of religious discourse.