Agni Purana — Sahitya-shastra, Shloka 9
Chapter 344: Ornaments of Word-and-Meaning (शब्दार्थालङ्काराः)
मुख्यौपचारिकी चेति सा च सा च द्विधा द्विधा स्वाभिधेयस्खलद्वृत्तिरमुख्यार्थस्य वाचकः
mukhyaupacārikī ceti sā ca sā ca dvidhā dvidhā svābhidheyaskhaladvṛttiramukhyārthasya vācakaḥ
អត្ថន័យដោយពាក្យ (śabda-śakti) ត្រូវបានពោលថាមានពីរប្រភេទ៖ មុខ្យ (អត្ថន័យផ្ទាល់) និង ឧបចារិកី (អត្ថន័យប្រៀបធៀប/រង)។ ហើយមួយៗក៏បែងជា២ប្រភេទទៀត។ នៅពេលការប្រើពាក្យលំអៀងចេញពីអត្ថន័យបញ្ជាក់របស់ខ្លួន នោះរបៀបដំណើរការនោះក្លាយជាអ្នកបញ្ជាក់អត្ថន័យមិនមុខ្យ។
Lord Agni (in Agni Purana’s didactic discourse to Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Alamkara","secondary_vidya":"Vyakarana","practical_application":"Interpreting poetic and ordinary sentences by distinguishing primary denotation (abhidhā) from secondary/figurative operation (upacāra/lakṣaṇā), useful in commentary, translation, and resolving ambiguity.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Śabda-śakti: Mukhya and Upacārikī (Primary vs Secondary Meaning)","lookup_keywords":["śabda-śakti","mukhya","upacārikī","abhidhā","amukhya-artha"],"quick_summary":"Meaning-power of words is classified into primary and secondary; when a word’s usage slips from its own denotative track, it functions to convey a non-primary sense."}
Alamkara Type: Lakṣaṇā (semantic indication) as śabda-śakti doctrine
Concept: Language conveys meaning through distinct powers; deviation from denotation enables non-literal sense.
Application: Use as a hermeneutic rule in exegesis: first test primary meaning; if it fails contextually, shift to secondary operation.
Khanda Section: Sahitya-shastra (Alankara & Shabda-shakti / semantics)
Primary Rasa: Adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: Shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A learned ācārya instructs students using a palm-leaf manuscript, pointing to two labeled paths: ‘mukhya’ (straight) and ‘upacārikī’ (diverted), illustrating how meaning shifts when denotation fails.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, guru with palm-leaf manuscript teaching śabda-śakti, two symbolic roads labeled mukhya and upacārikī, earthy reds and ochres, stylized students, flat iconic composition","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, seated guru with manuscript and stylus, gold-leaf halos, ornate arch, two small panels showing mukhya (straight lamp flame) and upacārikī (bent flame) as symbols of meaning shift","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional classroom scene, clear labels in Devanagari for mukhya/upacārikī, delicate linework, muted palette, manuscript desk and inkpot, didactic diagram emphasis","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly scholar-teacher with students, fine architectural interior, marginal diagram of two semantic tracks, detailed textiles and manuscript illumination, restrained color harmony"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Raga Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: mukhyaupacārikī → mukhyā + aupacārikī; ceti → ca + iti; svābhidheyaskhaladvṛttiḥ → svābhidheya-skhalat-vṛttiḥ; amukhyārthasya → amukhya-arthasya
Related Themes: Agni Purana 344 (Sahitya-shastra section on śabda-śakti, abhidha–lakṣaṇā–vyañjanā)
FAQs
It teaches a technical principle of Sanskrit semantics (śabda-śakti): meanings are conveyed either primarily (literal denotation) or secondarily (figurative/indicative), and secondary meaning arises when the word’s denotative sense is not directly applicable.
Beyond ritual and mythology, the Agni Purana preserves systematic śāstric learning—here, a compact outline of classical semantic theory used in grammar, Mīmāṃsā, and kāvya (poetics), showing its coverage of literary-scientific disciplines.
By clarifying how scripture and poetry convey intended meanings (literal and figurative), it supports correct interpretation (yathārtha-bodha), reducing misreading of dharma-teachings and thereby aiding right understanding and right conduct.