Agni Purana — Sahitya-shastra, Shloka 12
Discrimination of the Qualities of Poetry (Kāvya-guṇa-viveka) — Closing Verse/Colophon Transition
वक्तव्यग्राम्यवाच्यस्य वचनात्स्मरणादपि तद्वाचकपदेनाभिसाम्याद्भवति सा त्रिधा
vaktavyagrāmyavācyasya vacanātsmaraṇādapi tadvācakapadenābhisāmyādbhavati sā tridhā
जे व्यक्त करावयाचे आहे पण जे सामान्य (ग्राम्य) वाणीने थेट व्यक्त होत नाही, त्याची परोक्ष सूचकता तीन प्रकारे होते—उच्चाराने, केवळ स्मरणाने, आणि त्या अर्थवाचक शब्दाशी साम्य/संबंधाने।
Lord Agni (in instruction to Sage Vasiṣṭha, in the Agni Purana’s didactic discourse)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Alamkara","secondary_vidya":"Vyakarana","practical_application":"Understanding indirect signification/evocation in poetry and rhetoric—how meaning can arise without direct denotation, useful for composing suggestive, tasteful expression.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Indirect Signification: Threefold Arising (utterance, recollection, association)","lookup_keywords":["lakṣaṇā","vyañjanā","smaraṇa","abhisāmya","tad-vācaka"],"quick_summary":"For meanings not directly stated in ordinary speech, indirect sense arises in three modes: by utterance, by recollection, and by association through similarity with the denoting word. Practical takeaway: poets can imply sensitive or subtle content without blunt naming."}
Alamkara Type: Dhavni/Lakṣaṇā (conceptual)
Concept: Meaning is not exhausted by direct denotation; cognition can be triggered by memory and associative similarity.
Application: In composition, replace explicit taboo/harsh terms with suggestive phrasing; in interpretation, track memory cues and associative links to recover intended sense.
Khanda Section: Sahitya-shastra (Kavya/Alankara and Shabda-vritti)
Primary Rasa: Adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: Shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A teacher demonstrates three pathways of implied meaning: spoken word, a thought-bubble of recollection, and a visual link of similarity between two words/objects, while a student listens with a manuscript open.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, guru and disciple with palm-leaf text, three symbolic panels behind them: speech scroll, memory lotus, and twin objects connected by a line for similarity, bold outlines and traditional color blocks.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style with gold accents, central guru pointing to a triad diagram on a scroll—vacana, smaraṇa, abhisāmya—ornate arch frame, luminous background.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, refined instructional diagram beside the figures, gentle colors, clear labeling of the three modes of indirect meaning, scholarly ambience.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, classroom in a kitabkhana, marginal illustrations showing speech, recollection, and resemblance, intricate borders and calligraphy, attentive student posture."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: वचनात्स्मरणादपि = वचनात् + स्मरणात् + अपि; तद्वाचकपदेनाभिसाम्याद्भवति = तद्-वाचक-पदेन + अभिसाम्यात् + भवति.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 346 (Śabda-vṛtti / doṣa-guṇa discussions)
FAQs
It teaches a technical point of Sanskrit semantics/poetics: an indirect or suggested sense (beyond the literal ‘vācya’) is understood in three ways—through spoken expression, through mental recollection, and through similarity/association with the denoting word.
Alongside ritual, dharma, and other sciences, the Agni Purana also preserves kavya- and śāstra-style theory of meaning (shabda-vṛtti). This verse is a compact, technical classification used in Sanskrit literary criticism and linguistic analysis.
While not a ritual injunction, it supports correct understanding and transmission of śāstra and sacred discourse—clarifying how meaning is grasped beyond literal words, which aids accurate study (svādhyāya) and teaching (adhyāpana).