Agni Purana — Vyavahara, Shloka 25

Divya-pramāṇa-kathana

Explanation of Divine Proofs / Ordeals and Evidentiary Procedure

Devanagari script

सन्दिग्धार्थविशुद्ध्यर्थं स्वहस्तलिखितन्तु यत् युक्तिप्राप्तिक्रियाचिह्नसम्बन्धागमहेतुभिः

Transliteration

sandigdhārthaviśuddhyarthaṃ svahastalikhitantu yat yuktiprāptikriyācihnasambandhāgamahetubhiḥ

Translation

Để làm sáng tỏ ý nghĩa còn nghi ngờ, nên nương vào điều do chính tay mình viết, và định đoạt dựa trên các căn cứ: lý luận, sự xác chứng đã được thiết lập, thủ tục thực hành, dấu hiệu nhận dạng, mối liên hệ văn cảnh, và truyền thống thẩm quyền (āgama).

Word by Word

• sandigdha-artha-viśuddhi-artham: for clarifying a doubtful meaning
• sandigdha-artha-viśuddhi-artham: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sandigdha (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक) + viśuddhi (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; purpose expression (अर्थे द्वितीया): ‘for the sake of clarification/purification of doubtful meaning’

• svahasta-likhitam: a self-written document
• svahasta-likhitam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + hasta (प्रातिपदिक) + likhita (कृदन्त, लिख्-धातु)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st), Singular; PPP used substantively ‘a self-written (document)’

• tu: however
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात)

• yat: which
• yat: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st), Singular; relative pronoun referring to ‘svahastalikhitam’

• yukti-prāpti-kriyā-cihna-sambandha-āgama-hetubhiḥ: by (various) reasons—logic, acquisition, acts, signs, connection, tradition
• yukti-prāpti-kriyā-cihna-sambandha-āgama-hetubhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yukti (प्रातिपदिक) + prāpti (प्रातिपदिक) + kriyā (प्रातिपदिक) + cihna (प्रातिपदिक) + sambandha (प्रातिपदिक) + āgama (प्रातिपदिक) + hetu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; enumerative compound meaning ‘by reasons such as reasoning, obtaining, acts, marks/signs, connection, tradition/authority’

Speaker

Lord Agni (in instruction to Sage Vasiṣṭha)

Vidya Category

Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Alamkara","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Textual authentication and interpretation: resolving doubtful meaning by autograph evidence and a structured set of interpretive grounds (yukti, kriyā, cihna, sambandha, āgama).","sutra_style":true}

Encyclopedic Reference

Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Sandigdha-artha Viśuddhi: Grounds for Clarifying Doubtful Meaning","lookup_keywords":["sandigdha artha","svahastalikhita","yukti","cihna sambandha","agama hetu"],"quick_summary":"When meaning is doubtful, prefer autograph writing and test it through reasoning, verification, procedural practice, identifying marks, contextual linkage, and authoritative tradition. This functions as a hermeneutic and forensic checklist."}

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Valid understanding arises from multiple supports: reason, verification, practice, marks, context, and tradition—preventing arbitrary interpretation.

Application: In contracts, commentaries, or disputed readings, apply a checklist: autograph > internal marks > contextual coherence > procedural feasibility > corroborating tradition.

Khanda Section

Khanda Section: Sahitya-shastra (Pramana & Lekhya—textual authentication and clarity of meaning)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A scholar-judge examines an autograph document, comparing seals/marks, checking contextual clauses, consulting an authoritative manuscript tradition, and reasoning with advisors.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, learned assembly with palm-leaf manuscripts, one highlighted as svahasta, figures pointing to cihna (marks) and sambandha (context), a revered āgama text placed on a pedestal, traditional pigments and stylized gestures.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central autograph manuscript with gold halo-like emphasis, scholars on either side holding reasoning tablets, a sacred āgama book depicted with ornate cover, symmetrical devotional-instructional composition.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, analytical scene: document on desk, magnified marks (cihna) shown as inset, arrows indicating sambandha between clauses, a teacher explaining yukti and kriyā, clean didactic layout.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, munshis and pandits debating meaning, one compares handwriting, another references a canonical text, fine calligraphy and detailed study-room objects (ink, pens, paper, palm leaves)."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: सन्दिग्धार्थविशुद्ध्यर्थं = सन्दिग्ध + अर्थ + विशुद्धि + अर्थम्; स्वहस्तलिखितन्तु = स्वहस्तलिखितम् + तु; सम्बन्धागम = सम्बन्ध + आगम.

Cross References

Related Themes: Agni Purana 254 (lekhya, svahasta, pramāṇa discussion)

Characters & Entities

• Agni Purana
• Agama

FAQs

What technical or ritual knowledge (Vidya) is imparted in this verse?

It teaches a technical method for resolving ambiguity in a text/document by using multiple pramāṇa-like supports: rational analysis (yukti), verification (prāpti), procedural consistency (kriyā), identifying marks (cihna), contextual linkage (sambandha), and authoritative tradition (āgama).

How does this verse contribute to the 'Encyclopedic' nature of the Agni Purana?

Beyond theology, it addresses practical knowledge—documentary reliability and interpretive method—showing the Agni Purana’s coverage of jurisprudential and scholastic tools used to authenticate meaning and establish valid readings.

What is the spiritual or karmic significance of this specific instruction?

By urging clarity and reliance on valid grounds, it supports dharma through truthful communication and correct understanding, reducing error-driven actions (ajñāna-kṛta karma) that can lead to moral and ritual mistakes.