The Sanskrit word ‘artha’ is commonly interpreted as ‘meaning,’ referring to the meaning of words, phrases, and sentences. In rhetorical works, the ‘artha’ of a word can be categorized into three types: vachyartha (direct meaning), lakshyartha (implied meaning), and vyangyaartha (alluded meaning).
Vachyartha (Direct Meaning): The direct or literal meaning of a word or phrase is referred to as vachyartha. An example of vachya artha is the sentence ‘gam anaya,’ which translates to ‘Bring the cow.’ Here, the meaning is straightforward and unambiguous.
Lakshyartha (Implied Meaning): The implied meaning goes beyond the literal interpretation and suggests an additional, often context-dependent, meaning. For instance, in the sentence ‘kalingah sahasikah,’ which means ‘the Kalinga is adventurous,’ the word ‘Kalinga’ literally refers to the country. However, by implication, it is understood to mean a citizen of that country, indicating that a person from Kalinga is adventurous.
Vyangyaartha (Alluded Meaning): The alluded meaning is derived from suggestive or symbolic context, often relying on cultural or literary associations. An example is the sentence ‘sashankha-chakro harih,’ which means ‘Hari is with Shankha and Chakra.’ Here, although the word ‘harih’ can refer to Vishnu, Yama, Vayu, lion, or monkey, it is confined to Vishnu because of the allusion to shankha (conch) and chakra (discus), which are symbols exclusively associated with Vishnu.
These three types of ‘artha’ highlight the richness and complexity of meaning in language, demonstrating how words can convey multiple layers of significance based on context and usage.