Agni Purana — Sahitya-shastra, Shloka 10
Arthālaṅkāras (Ornaments of Meaning): Definitions, Taxonomy, and the Centrality of Upamā
यत्र साधारणो धर्मः कथ्यते गम्यते ऽपि वा ते धर्मवस्तुप्राधान्याद्धर्मवस्तूपमे उभे
yatra sādhāraṇo dharmaḥ kathyate gamyate 'pi vā te dharmavastuprādhānyāddharmavastūpame ubhe
जहाँ साधारण धर्म (सामान्य गुण) कहा जाता है या केवल समझा जाता है, वहाँ धर्म और वस्तु—दोनों की प्रधानता होने से वे दोनों ‘धर्मवस्तु-उपमा’ कहलाते हैं।
Lord Agni (instructing sage Vasiṣṭha in encyclopedic topics, here poetics/technical definitions)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Alamkara","secondary_vidya":"Vyakarana","practical_application":"Identify the subtype dharmavastu-upamā by checking whether the common attribute is stated or only implied, and noting that both attribute (dharma) and entity (vastu) are treated as primary in interpretation.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Dharmavastu-upamā (Simile with Stated/Implied Common Attribute)","lookup_keywords":["dharmavastu-upamā","sādhāraṇa-dharma","kathyate","gamyate","upamā-bheda"],"quick_summary":"When the shared attribute is either explicitly expressed or understood, and the entity/subject matter remains primary, the simile is classified as dharmavastu-upamā."}
Alamkara Type: Upamā (dharmavastu subtype)
Concept: Meaning can be directly stated or inferred; śāstra legitimizes both explicit (abhidhā) and implied (gamyate) cognition in literary understanding.
Application: In commentary, annotate whether the dharma is expressed (e.g., ‘śuklaḥ’) or only suggested by context; then label the example as dharmavastu-upamā when both dharma and vastu are operative.
Khanda Section: Sahitya-shastra (Kavya/Alankara and technical definitions)
Primary Rasa: Shanta
Secondary Rasa: Adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Two examples of simile shown side-by-side: one with the shared attribute written plainly between upameya and upamāna, and one where the attribute is shown as a faint, inferred glow, indicating implied dharma.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, diptych: left panel bold inscription of dharma between two figures/objects, right panel subtle aura indicating implied dharma, scholar pointing to ‘kathyate’ and ‘gamyate’ labels, traditional colors.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, gold-highlighted dharma word in the explicit panel, softer gilded aura in the implied panel, ornate borders, central manuscript motif.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clear instructional comparison with arrows: stated dharma vs inferred dharma, neat calligraphy labels, gentle shading and classroom ambiance.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, annotated folio with two illustrated similes, one with written attribute, one with marginal note indicating implication, refined palette and detailed textiles."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Raga Bhairavi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: गम्यते + अपि → गम्यतेऽपि; प्राधान्यात् + धर्म... → प्राधान्याद्धर्म...; वस्तु + उपमे → वस्तूपमे.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 343.6 (sādhāraṇa-dharma basis); Agni Purana 343.9 (upamā-bheda enumeration)
FAQs
It imparts a technical rule from Sanskrit poetics (alaṅkāra-śāstra): when a shared attribute is stated or understood between two entities, the simile is classified as dharmavastu-upamā due to the primacy of the entities (vastu) along with the attribute (dharma).
Beyond myth and ritual, the Agni Purana systematizes scholarly disciplines; here it codifies a fine-grained taxonomy of figures of speech (upamā-bheda) used in Sanskrit literature and rhetoric.
While primarily technical, mastering correct expression and refined understanding (śāstra-jñāna) is traditionally treated as a meritorious discipline that supports dharma through precise teaching, interpretation, and transmission of sacred and learned texts.