According to Sanskrit rhetoricians Sabda or a word has three types of power or vyaapaara, namely Abhidha (expressive power), Lakshana (indicative power) and Vyanjana (suggestive power).

Abhidha is expression. Lakshana is indication and Vyanjana is suggestion. Expression is the resultant of the expressed sense of a word, Indication is the resultant of the indicated sense of a word whereas Suggestion is the resultant of the suggested sense of a word.

Expression arises from an expressor, indication arises from an indicator and suggestion arises from a suggestor. Look at the following expression:

A hamlet on the Ganges

From the above expressors we arrive at the expressed meaning 'a village is situated on the Ganges'

From the indicators we get the indicated sense 'a village is situated on the banks of the Ganges' and not right on the Ganges!

From the suggestors we get the suggested sense or the Vyangyartha 'the village is very pure and serene' since it is associated with the Ganges! Thus a connoisseur will be able to grasp the suggested sense quite easily. And a poet who incorporates suggested sense in his or her writings becomes a quality poet!

It is always believed by the most popular poets of the world that suggestion is the very soul of poetry. It is called as 'Dhvani' by the Sanskrit rhetoricians.