Agni Purana — Sahitya-shastra, Shloka 22
Explanation of Abhinaya and Related Topics (अभिनयादिनिरूपणम्) — Agni Purana, Chapter 341
आभाणकोक्तिर्लोकोक्तिः सर्वसामान्य एव ताः यानुधावति लोकोक्तिश्छायामिच्छन्ति तां बुधाः
ābhāṇakoktirlokoktiḥ sarvasāmānya eva tāḥ yānudhāvati lokoktiśchāyāmicchanti tāṃ budhāḥ
आभाणक की उक्ति—अर्थात् लोकोक्ति—सर्वसामान्य, सर्वत्र लागू होने वाली होती है। जिस लोकोक्ति-रूप छाया के पीछे जनभाषा दौड़ती है, उसी को विद्वान भी चाहते हैं।
Lord Agni (teaching sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s encyclopedic discourse)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Alamkara","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Use lokokti (proverbs) as universally intelligible chāyā-material to increase accessibility and memorability in poetry and speech.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Lokokti (Ābhāṇaka) as Universal Chāyā in Common and Learned Usage","lookup_keywords":["lokokti","ābhāṇaka","chāyā","proverb","sārvatrika"],"quick_summary":"Proverbs are presented as universally applicable sayings (ābhāṇaka/lokokti). The same ‘shadow’ that common speech gravitates toward is also deliberately sought by learned poets for communicative power."}
Alamkara Type: Chāyā via Lokokti (proverbial diction)
Concept: Sāmānya (generality) as a communicative virtue in discourse
Application: Prefer proverb-based phrasing when addressing mixed audiences; it improves recall and persuasion while retaining poetic elegance.
Khanda Section: Sahitya-shastra (Kavya, Alankara and Literary Usage)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: hasya
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A village scene where a proverb is spoken in daily life, mirrored by a poet in a learned assembly using the same saying as refined chāyā—two parallel panels connected by a ‘shadow’ motif.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural diptych: left villagers speaking a lokokti in marketplace, right paṇḍitas in sabhā echoing it in kāvya, stylized linking shadow ribbon between panels, warm earthy palette","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting with gold borders, central scroll showing a proverb, lower vignette of common folk speaking, upper vignette of scholars quoting it, ornate decorative motifs emphasizing universality","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style instructional scene: teacher writes ‘lokokti = ābhāṇaka’ and shows how it becomes chāyā in poetry, clean composition with labeled arrows from ‘loka’ to ‘kavi’","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature split-scene: bazaar conversation on one side, courtly mushaira-like gathering on the other, same line appearing in calligraphy cartouches, delicate detailing"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: आभाणकोक्तिः+लोकोक्तिः→आभाणकोक्तिर्लोकोक्तिः; लोकोक्तिः+छायाम्→लोकोक्तिश्छायाम्; छायाम्+इच्छन्ति→छायामिच्छन्ति; या+अनुधावति→यानुधावति
Related Themes: Agni Purana 341.21-341.23 (chāyā subtypes: lokokti and chekokti)
FAQs
It imparts Sahitya-shastra knowledge: defining lokokti/ābhāṇaka as universally applicable proverbial expression and legitimizing its use as a recognized model of speech even for learned authors.
Beyond ritual and dharma, it codifies literary theory and linguistic practice—showing the Agni Purana also functions as a handbook for kavya composition, rhetoric, and accepted idiom.
Indirectly, it encourages truthful, widely intelligible expression in teaching and composition—supporting dharmic communication where wisdom is conveyed in forms that ordinary people readily grasp.