Agni Purana — Sahitya-shastra, Shloka 11
Chapter 344: Ornaments of Word-and-Meaning (शब्दार्थालङ्काराः)
अभिधेयाविनाभूता प्रतीतिर् लक्षणोच्यते अभिधेयेन सम्बन्धात्सामीप्यात्समवायतः
abhidheyāvinābhūtā pratītir lakṣaṇocyate abhidheyena sambandhātsāmīpyātsamavāyataḥ
ਅਭਿਧੇਯ (ਮੁੱਖ ਅਰਥ) ਨਾਲ ਅਵਿਨਾਭਾਵ ਰੂਪ ਵਿੱਚ ਜੁੜੀ ਹੋਈ ਜੋ ਪ੍ਰਤੀਤੀ ਹੈ, ਉਹੀ ‘ਲਕਸ਼ਣਾ’ ਕਹੀ ਜਾਂਦੀ ਹੈ। ਇਹ ਅਭਿਧੇਯ ਨਾਲ ਸੰਬੰਧ, ਸਾਮੀਪ੍ਯ (ਨੇੜਤਾ) ਜਾਂ ਸਮਵਾਯ (ਅੰਦਰੂਨੀ ਜੋੜ) ਕਰਕੇ ਉਤਪੰਨ ਹੁੰਦੀ ਹੈ।
Lord Agni (in instruction to the sage Vasiṣṭha, within the Agni Purana’s encyclopedic discourse on poetics/semantics)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Alamkara","secondary_vidya":"Philosophy","practical_application":"Classifying types of lakṣaṇā by the relation that enables indication—relation (sambandha), proximity (sāmīpya), or inherence (samavāya)—to justify intended meaning in poetry and śāstric prose.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Lakṣaṇā as Cognition Arising from Sambandha–Sāmīpya–Samavāya","lookup_keywords":["lakṣaṇā","sambandha","sāmīpya","samavāya","abhidheya"],"quick_summary":"Lakṣaṇā is the indicated cognition inseparable from denotation, produced through a recognized relation—connection, proximity, or inherence—between the expressed and intended senses."}
Alamkara Type: Lakṣaṇā (semantic indication)
Concept: Meaning-indication depends on ontological/epistemic relations (sambandha, sāmīpya, samavāya) that make the intended sense cognitively unavoidable.
Application: When defending an interpretation, specify which relation licenses the shift (e.g., proximity for place→people, inherence for substance→attribute).
Khanda Section: Sahitya-shastra (Kavya/Alankara & Lakshana—poetics and semantic indication)
Primary Rasa: Adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: Shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Three linked panels showing (1) sambandha: two objects tied by a cord, (2) sāmīpya: objects placed close, (3) samavāya: attribute residing in a substance; a teacher explains how each yields lakṣaṇā.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural triptych, symbolic cord (sambandha), closeness (sāmīpya), and attribute-in-substance (samavāya) motifs, guru and disciples, bold outlines and earthy palette","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting with gold borders, three medallions labeled sambandha/sāmīpya/samavāya, central guru figure with halo, ornate floral motifs, didactic icon-panels","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, neat three-panel instructional illustration with fine linework, Devanagari labels, subtle colors, emphasis on conceptual clarity over ornament","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, scholar presenting three illustrated folios to students, each folio depicting one relation type, intricate margins and calligraphy cartouches"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Raga Bhairavi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: pratītir → pratītiḥ (visarga before r); lakṣaṇocyate → lakṣaṇā + ucyate; sambandhātsāmīpyāt → sambandhāt + sāmīpyāt
Related Themes: Agni Purana 344.10-12 (lakṣaṇā definitions and types)
FAQs
It teaches a core principle of Sanskrit semantic theory in Kavya/Alankara-shastra: lakṣaṇā (indirect/indicated meaning) occurs when a cognition, inseparable from the primary denotation, is triggered via relation, proximity, or inherence.
Beyond ritual and dharma, the Agni Purana also systematizes literary theory and linguistic analysis; this verse gives a technical definition of lakṣaṇā and its causal bases, showing the text’s coverage of advanced Sanskrit poetics and meaning-structure.
By refining correct comprehension of scripture and refined speech (śāstra-artha and kavya-artha), it supports accurate understanding and transmission of dharma; clarity of meaning is treated as a purifier of study and teaching.