Agni Purana — Sahitya-shastra, Shloka 18
Arthālaṅkāras (Ornaments of Meaning): Definitions, Taxonomy, and the Centrality of Upamā
उभयोर्धर्मिणोस्तथ्यानिश् चयात् संशयोपमा उपमेयस्य संशय्य निश् चयान्निश् चयोपमा
ubhayordharmiṇostathyāniś cayāt saṃśayopamā upameyasya saṃśayya niś cayānniś cayopamā
បើផ្អែកលើការកំណត់យ៉ាងពិតប្រាកដនៃលក្ខណៈរួមក្នុងទាំងពីរ—ប្រធានប្រៀប (upameya) និងវត្ថុស្តង់ដារ—តែការស្រដៀងត្រូវបានបង្ហាញជាសង្ស័យ នោះហៅថា «សំសយោបមា» (ឧបមាសង្ស័យ)។ តែបើប្រធានប្រៀបខ្លួនវាសង្ស័យ ហើយការស្រដៀងត្រូវបាននិយាយដោយការកំណត់ច្បាស់ នោះហៅថា «និශ්ចយោបមា» (ឧបមាច្បាស់លាស់)។
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in encyclopedic teachings, here on Sanskrit poetics)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Alamkara","secondary_vidya":"Philosophy","practical_application":"Choose between saṃśayopamā and niścayopamā to control epistemic stance in poetry—either feigned doubt despite known similarity, or asserted certainty despite doubtful identity of the subject.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Saṃśayopamā and Niścayopamā (Simile of Doubt / Simile of Certainty)","lookup_keywords":["saṃśayopamā","niścayopamā","dharma-niścaya","upameya-saṃśaya","upamā-bheda"],"quick_summary":"Saṃśayopamā presents likeness as doubtful even after real ascertainment of a shared attribute; niścayopamā asserts likeness with certainty even when the upameya itself is doubtful."}
Alamkara Type: Upamā (Saṃśayopamā; Niścayopamā)
Concept: Separation of ontic status (what is) from rhetorical stance (how it is presented): poetry can ‘perform’ doubt or certainty to guide reader response.
Application: Use interrogatives/particles (kim, nūnam, iva) for saṃśaya; use decisive markers (eva, niścitam, khalu) for niścaya even amid identity-uncertainty.
Khanda Section: Sahitya-shastra (Alankara-shastra: Upama and allied poetic comparisons)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A split composition: one side shows a clearly shared attribute between two entities, yet a speech-scroll expresses doubt; the other side shows a hazy upameya silhouette, yet a bold inscription asserts certainty of likeness.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, two-panel narrative: panel one with clear paired motifs and a questioning gesture, panel two with misty figure and decisive pointing, traditional cloud bands, expressive hand mudrās","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, symmetrical layout with gold borders: left ‘saṃśaya’ panel with questioning eyes, right ‘niścaya’ panel with firm gaze, ornate calligraphy-like captions, jewel tones","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, pedagogic diagram aesthetic: arrows marking ‘dharma-niścaya’ and ‘upameya-saṃśaya’, soft washes, precise outlines, minimal background for clarity","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, refined courtly scene where observers debate identity (doubt) in one vignette and proclaim certainty in another, delicate gestures, architectural framing"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: उभयोर्धर्मिणोः = उभयोः + धर्मिणोः; तथ्यानिश्चयात् = तथ्य + अनिश्चयात्; संशयोपमा = संशय + उपमा; निश्चयान्निश्चयोपमा = निश्चयात् + निश्चयोपमा (त् + न् → न्न्).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 343 (Upamā subtypes; surrounding definitions of upamā and its bhedas)
FAQs
It imparts technical knowledge of Sanskrit poetics (Alaṅkāra-śāstra), defining two subtypes of simile: saṃśayopamā (dubitative simile) and niścayopamā (certitude simile), based on whether doubt or certainty is expressed about the comparison or the subject.
By codifying precise rhetorical categories and their conditions (upameya/upamāna, dharma, saṃśaya, niścaya), it shows the Agni Purana functioning as a compendium that includes not only ritual and dharma, but also systematic Sanskrit literary theory.
While primarily literary, the instruction supports dharmic communication: clear and properly qualified speech (distinguishing doubt from certainty) helps preserve truthfulness and right understanding, which are valued as meritorious disciplines in traditional learning.