Agni Purana — Sahitya-shastra, Shloka 26
Explanation of Abhinaya and Related Topics (अभिनयादिनिरूपणम्) — Agni Purana, Chapter 341
अभिप्रायविशेषेण कविशक्तिं विवृण्वती मुत्प्रदायिनीति सा मुद्रा सैव शय्यापि नो मते
abhiprāyaviśeṣeṇa kaviśaktiṃ vivṛṇvatī mutpradāyinīti sā mudrā saiva śayyāpi no mate
กลวิธีที่ด้วยเจตนาพิเศษทำให้พลังการแสดงออกของกวีปรากฏ และให้ความหมายตามที่มุ่งหมาย เรียกว่า ‘มุทรา’; ตามทัศนะของเรา สิ่งเดียวกันนั้นเรียกได้ว่า ‘ศัยยา’ ด้วย.
Lord Agni (traditional Agni Purana frame: Agni instructing Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Alamkara","secondary_vidya":"Vyakarana","practical_application":"To identify and employ 'mudra' (also termed 'shayya' here) as a meaning-sealing expressive device that reveals poetic power by a specific intended sense, ensuring the audience grasps the intended import.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Mudrā / Śayyā (meaning-yielding expressive device)","lookup_keywords":["mudra","shayya","abhipraya","kavi-shakti","artha-pradayini"],"quick_summary":"Mudrā is the device that, by a particular intended sense (abhiprāya-viśeṣa), manifests the poet’s expressive power and delivers the intended meaning; the text equates this with the term śayyā."}
Alamkara Type: Mudrā (device/marker)
Concept: Meaning is not only lexical; it is guided by intention (abhiprāya) and interpretive cues that activate poetic power.
Application: When composing, place a ‘mudrā’—a decisive cue (name, epithet, refrain, signature-phrase, or contextual marker)—so the reader resolves ambiguity toward the intended sense.
Khanda Section: Sahitya-shastra (Kavya-śāstra / Alaṅkāra-śāstra: poetic theory and technical terminology)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A poet places a final ‘seal’ word in a verse; the audience’s confusion clears as the intended meaning becomes evident, depicted as a knot untied by a marked token labeled mudrā/śayyā.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, poet in scholarly hall, a glowing word-token (mudrā) hovering above manuscript, listeners’ faces shifting from puzzled to understanding, stylized lotus motifs, earthy palette","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central poet with manuscript, gold-leaf ‘seal’ emblem near the concluding phrase, attentive listeners, ornate arch frame, rich reds and gold","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional diagram-like scene: verse line with highlighted ‘mudrā’ segment, poet pointing, students seated, clean composition and fine detailing","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, literary salon, poet presenting a couplet, a highlighted cartouche around the key ‘mudrā’ word, scholars gesturing in agreement, intricate borders"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: अभिप्रायविशेषेण = अभिप्राय-विशेषेण; मुत्प्रदायिनीति = मुत्-प्रदायिनी इति; सैव = सा एव; शय्यापि = शय्या अपि
Related Themes: Agni Purana 341.27 (ukti: captivating expression)
FAQs
It gives a technical definition from kavya-śāstra: ‘mudrā’ is a meaning-producing marker/device that reveals the poet’s intended sense and expressive power; it is also termed ‘śayyā’ in this tradition.
Beyond myth and ritual, the Agni Purana preserves compact, śāstra-style definitions for arts like Sanskrit poetics—showing it functions as a multi-disciplinary handbook of classical knowledge.
Indirectly, it supports dharmic cultivation through refined speech and correct understanding of meaning—valued in Indian tradition as a form of disciplined expression aligned with truth (satya) and right intention (abhiprāya).