Characteristic - सामान्यं वा विशेषो ता वदन्येन समर्थ्यते ।
यत्र सोऽर्थान्तरन्यासः साधम्र्येणेतरेण वा ॥
Meaning: Where an ordinary or a special fact is
supported by another by similarity of quality, propriety or by difference in quality or properiety ie. ordinary fact /thing by special fact/ thing or viceversa, the figure of speech is अर्थान्तरन्यासः i.e. transferred epithet.
For example:
यः स्वभावो हि यस्यास्ति नित्यं दुरतिक्रमः ।
श्वा यदि क्रियते राजा तत्किं नाश्यात्युपानहम् ॥
(Meaning: It is difficult to change the nature of a person will a dog not chew a shoe if it is made a king ?)
Very simple thing that to change the nature of a person is very difficult (it is applicable to all) is supported by giving an illustration of a dog that it does not change its nature of chewing a shoes even if it becomes a King. This is transferred epithet.
The words हि, यतः, यत् । give the suggestion supporting the condition of this figure of speech, but it may not be used sometime.
(Special note: This figure of speech can be used to expose secrets of life. To put very tersely, nothing special or common is felt so effective as the fact supported with this figure of speech. For this reason only this figure of speech is very much used in Sanskrit Subhashits)