Agni Purana — Sahitya-shastra, Shloka 9
Discrimination of the Qualities of Poetry (Kāvya-guṇa-viveka) — Closing Verse/Colophon Transition
अन्यार्थत्वासमर्थत्वे एतामेवोपसर्पतः मनीषयेति ज सन्दिह्यमानवाच्यत्वमाहुः संशयितार्थतां
anyārthatvāsamarthatve etāmevopasarpataḥ manīṣayeti ja sandihyamānavācyatvamāhuḥ saṃśayitārthatāṃ
പ്രധാന (ശാബ്ദിക) അർത്ഥം അന്യാർത്ഥം നൽകുന്നതിനാലോ അസമർത്ഥമാകുന്നതിനാലോ നിലനിൽക്കാതെ വന്നാൽ, സന്ദർഭബുദ്ധി (മനീഷാ) കൊണ്ട് അതേ ദ്വിതീയാർത്ഥത്തിലേക്ക് സമീപിക്കണം; വാച്യാർത്ഥം അനിശ്ചിതമായി നിൽക്കുന്നിടത്ത് അതിനെ ‘സംശയിതാർത്ഥത’ എന്നു പറയുന്നു.
Lord Agni (teaching the sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa’s encyclopedic instruction)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Alamkara","secondary_vidya":"Vyakarana","practical_application":"Explains how doubtful meaning arises when literal sense fails and a secondary sense is reached by reasoning; useful for distinguishing legitimate lakṣaṇā/vyañjanā from doṣa-causing ambiguity.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Saṃśayitārthatā: doubt from incapacity of primary sense and resort to secondary sense","lookup_keywords":["saṃśayitārthatā","vācya-asamarthya","anyārthatva","manīṣā","lakṣaṇā"],"quick_summary":"When the literal meaning cannot function (or yields an unintended sense), the reader moves toward a secondary meaning through contextual reasoning; if the literal expressibility remains indeterminate, the defect is ‘doubtful meaning’."}
Concept: Meaning arises through rule-governed cognition; when primary meaning is blocked, secondary meaning is accessed, but unresolved indeterminacy is a fault.
Application: Ensure contextual markers (case-relations, qualifiers, intended referent) make the shift to secondary meaning unambiguous; otherwise revise to prevent reader hesitation.
Khanda Section: Sahitya-shastra (Kavya-śāstra) — Semantics and Poetics (Śakti, Lakṣaṇā, Vyañjanā, Doṣas)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A reader at a crossroads signpost: one path labeled ‘vācya’ blocked, another labeled ‘lakṣya’ reached by ‘manīṣā’; lingering fog symbolizes doubtful meaning.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, allegorical crossroads with Sanskrit labels, fog motif around the reader, teacher guiding with a staff, bold outlines and earthy tones","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, ornate signpost with gold leaf inscriptions ‘vācya’ and ‘lakṣya’, blocked gate on one side, luminous guidance on the other, rich decorative borders","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean pedagogic diagram: blocked literal meaning arrow, secondary meaning arrow via manīṣā, minimal background, crisp calligraphy","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, scholar pondering over a folio with marginal notes, faint mist painted around the text to show ambiguity, refined interior setting"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: एतामेवोपसर्पतः = एताम् + एव + उपसर्पतः; सन्दिह्यमानवाच्यत्वमाहुः = सन्दिह्यमानवाच्यत्वम् + आहुः
Related Themes: Agni Purana 346 (Śakti/Lakṣaṇā/Vyañjanā and doṣa discussion cluster); Agni Purana 346.7 (saṃśayitārthatā listed)
FAQs
It imparts a technical rule of Sanskrit semantics/poetics: when the literal meaning fails (asamarthatva) or yields an unintended sense (anyārthatva), interpretation shifts via reasoned context (manīṣā), producing a recognized category of ambiguity (saṃśayitārthatā).
Beyond ritual and mythology, the Agni Purāṇa also codifies kavya-śāstra and semantic theory—here classifying how meaning becomes doubtful when literal denotation is unstable, a topic usually treated in alaṅkāra and nyāya-style interpretation.
It encourages disciplined comprehension of scripture and poetry: avoiding careless literalism and using thoughtful discernment (manīṣā) reduces misinterpretation, supporting right understanding (samyag-jñāna) as a foundation for dharmic conduct.