Agni Purana — Sahitya-shastra, Shloka 17
Chapter 344: Ornaments of Word-and-Meaning (शब्दार्थालङ्काराः)
यत्रोक्तं गम्यते नार्थस्तत्समानविशेषणं सा समासोकितिरुदिता सङ्क्षेपार्थतया बुधैः
yatroktaṃ gamyate nārthastatsamānaviśeṣaṇaṃ sā samāsokitiruditā saṅkṣepārthatayā budhaiḥ
Когда намеренный смысл не постигается из явно сказанного, но понимается через выражение с тем же общим значением, снабжённое уточняющим определением, учёные объявляют это samāsokti, ибо оно передаёт смысл в сжатом виде.
Lord Agni (traditional Agni Purana narrator) addressing the sage Vasiṣṭha
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Alamkara","secondary_vidya":"Vyakarana","practical_application":"Recognizing samāsokti (condensed statement) where the intended meaning is inferred via a generally similar expression with a qualifying specification—useful for compact poetic composition and commentary.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Samāsokti (Condensed Expression)","lookup_keywords":["samāsokti","saṅkṣepa","gamyārtha","viśeṣaṇa","alakṣita-artha"],"quick_summary":"Samāsokti is where the intended meaning is not directly stated but is understood through a generally similar expression carrying a qualifying specification, yielding a condensed conveyance of sense."}
Alamkara Type: Samāsokti
Concept: Economy in expression can still yield full meaning when guided by qualifiers and shared understanding.
Application: In writing and teaching, use compact formulations with precise qualifiers to allow the reader to reconstruct the intended meaning without verbosity.
Khanda Section: Sahitya-shastra (Sanskrit Poetics: Alankara and Kavya-śāstra definitions)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A scribe compresses a long explanation into a short aphoristic line; beside it, a fuller meaning unfolds like a scroll, showing ‘saṅkṣepa’ expanding in the reader’s mind.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, scribe with palm-leaf writing a short line, behind him a stylized unfurling scroll motif representing expanded meaning, earthy palette, bold contours","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold-highlighted short inscription on palm leaf, with decorative scrollwork emerging to symbolize condensed meaning, rich reds, temple-like frame","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, diagrammatic before/after: long statement reduced to compact samāsokti, fine lines, clear labels, subdued elegant colors","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, calligrapher writing a brief couplet while an assistant holds a longer draft, detailed paper textures, refined margins, intellectual studio setting"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Hamsadhwani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: यत्र+उक्तम्→यत्रोक्तम्; न+अर्थः→नार्थः; तत्+समानविशेषणम्→तत्समानविशेषणम्; समासोक्तिः+उदिता→समासोक्तिरुदिता.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 344 (alaṅkāra-lakṣaṇa series)
FAQs
It teaches a technical principle of Kavya-śāstra: the figure samāsokti—communicating an intended sense indirectly through a closely related expression with a qualifier, achieving semantic condensation (saṅkṣepa).
Beyond ritual and dharma, the Agni Purana preserves formal definitions from Sanskrit literary theory, showing its scope as a compendium that includes poetics, rhetoric, and grammatical-linguistic analysis.
While not a ritual injunction, it supports dharmic transmission by refining correct and elegant expression—helping preserve śāstra, teach effectively, and communicate meaning precisely with disciplined brevity.