Agni Purana — Sahitya-shastra, Shloka 11
Chapter 344: Ornaments of Word-and-Meaning (शब्दार्थालङ्काराः)
अभिधेयाविनाभूता प्रतीतिर् लक्षणोच्यते अभिधेयेन सम्बन्धात्सामीप्यात्समवायतः
abhidheyāvinābhūtā pratītir lakṣaṇocyate abhidheyena sambandhātsāmīpyātsamavāyataḥ
A cognição inseparavelmente ligada à denotação primária (abhidheya) chama-se lakṣaṇā, o sentido indicado/ secundário. Ela surge por relação com o sentido denotado—por conexão (sambandha), por proximidade (sāmīpya) ou por inerência (samavāya).
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.