Agni Purana — Sahitya-shastra, Shloka 15
Chapter 344: Ornaments of Word-and-Meaning (शब्दार्थालङ्काराः)
शब्देनार्थेन यत्रार्थः कृत्वा स्वयमुपार्जनम् प्रतिषेध इवेष्टस्य यो विशेषो ऽभिधित्सया
śabdenārthena yatrārthaḥ kṛtvā svayamupārjanam pratiṣedha iveṣṭasya yo viśeṣo 'bhidhitsayā
ਜਿੱਥੇ ਸ਼ਬਦ ਆਪਣੇ ਵਾਚ੍ਯ ਅਰਥ ਰਾਹੀਂ ਅਰਥ ਦੱਸ ਕੇ ਸੁਣਨ ਵਾਲੇ ਨੂੰ ਆਪ ਹੀ ਅਭਿਪ੍ਰੇਤ ਅਰਥ ਹਾਸਲ ਕਰਵਾ ਦੇਂਦਾ ਹੈ, ਉੱਥੇ ਚਾਹੇ ਹੋਏ (ਆਖ਼ਰੀਕ) ਅਰਥ ਦਾ ਜਿਵੇਂ ‘ਪ੍ਰਤਿਸ਼ੇਧ’ ਹੋ ਗਿਆ ਹੋਵੇ, ਐਸਾ ਜੋ ਵਿਸ਼ੇਸ਼ ਅਰਥ ਉਭਰਦਾ ਹੈ, ਉਹ ਵਕਤਾ ਦੀ ਅਭਿਧਿਤਸਾ (ਖਾਸ ਅਰਥ ਦੱਸਣ ਦੀ ਇੱਛਾ) ਤੋਂ ਪੈਦਾ ਹੁੰਦਾ ਹੈ।
Lord Agni (teaching sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s encyclopedic discourse)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Alamkara","secondary_vidya":"Vyakarana","practical_application":"Discriminating speaker-intended sense from literal sense by analyzing how expressed meaning triggers an independently grasped intended meaning (tātparya), useful in poetics, debate, and precise reading.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Intended Meaning Arising ‘as if by Prohibition’ of the Literal","lookup_keywords":["śabda-śakti","abhidhā","tātparya","lakṣaṇā","pratiṣedha-iva"],"quick_summary":"When the expressed meaning leads the listener to independently grasp the intended sense, the literal is treated as if ‘set aside’ (as though prohibited), due to the speaker’s intention to denote a particular meaning."}
Concept: Meaning is not only lexical; it is governed by communicative intention and contextual constraint, which can override the default literal.
Application: In interpretation and instruction, infer intended sense by checking coherence, purpose, and contextual fitness rather than clinging to primary denotation.
Khanda Section: Sahitya-shastra (Kavya/Alankara and Shabda-shakti)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A teacher demonstrates two meanings on a board: the literal meaning is crossed out, while the intended meaning is highlighted, showing how intention guides comprehension.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stylized classroom in a temple maṭha, guru gesturing to two inscriptions, one muted and one glowing, earthy palette, bold outlines, symbolic ‘prohibition’ mark over the literal","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, ornate scholar scene with gold-leaf emphasis on the intended meaning panel, literal panel subdued, rich brocade costumes, decorative arch frame","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic diagram-like composition: word → expressed sense → intended sense, fine lines, soft colors, minimal ornament, clear instructional focus","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, munshi explaining a couplet to a patron, marginal notes, one gloss erased and another written, delicate calligraphy, detailed study room with books"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: शब्देन+अर्थेन→शब्देनार्थेन; यत्र+अर्थः→यत्रार्थः; इव+इष्टस्य→इवेष्टस्य; विशेषः+अभिधित्सया→विशेषोऽभिधित्सया.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 344 (sections on śabda-śakti and dhvani)
FAQs
This verse imparts Sahitya-shastra/semantic theory: how a word’s conveyed meaning is determined by abhidha (primary signification) guided by the speaker’s intention (abhidhitsā), including the exclusion of an unwanted literal sense as if by negation (pratiṣedha).
Beyond rituals and dharma, the Agni Purana also codifies technical disciplines like Sanskrit poetics and semantics; this verse functions like a compact rule on meaning-determination (shabda–artha relation), showing the text’s coverage of linguistic and literary theory alongside religious instruction.
It supports correct scriptural understanding: discerning intended meaning prevents misreading of dharma and ritual injunctions, thereby aligning speech, study, and practice with right intention and reducing error-born karmic outcomes.