Agni Purana — Sahitya-shastra, Shloka 19
Chapter 336 — काव्यादिलक्षणम्
Definitions of Poetry and Related Arts
समाप्यते तयोर् नाद्या सा कथामनुधावति कथाख्यायिकयोर्मिश्रभावात् परिकथा स्मृता
samāpyate tayor nādyā sā kathāmanudhāvati kathākhyāyikayormiśrabhāvāt parikathā smṛtā
إذا اكتملت الرواية الأولى من الاثنتين، فإن التي تليها تمضي على نهج الـkathā. ولأنها صيغةٌ ممزوجة بين kathā وākhyāyikā، فقد ذُكرت باسم parikathā.
Lord Agni (in instruction to the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Alamkara","secondary_vidya":null,"practical_application":"Identifying and composing the mixed narrative genre parikathā by sequencing two narrative modes (kathā and ākhyāyikā) with a defined transition rule.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Parikathā as a mixed form of Kathā and Ākhyāyikā","lookup_keywords":["parikathā","kathā","ākhyāyikā","miśrabhāva","narrative genre"],"quick_summary":"Parikathā is defined as a hybrid genre where, after the first of the two narrative modes concludes, the subsequent narration proceeds in the manner of kathā; it is recognized by its mixed construction."}
Concept: Literary forms are knowable by lakṣaṇa (defining marks) and by procedural sequencing (how one segment follows another).
Application: For writers/teachers: design a parikathā by deliberately blending ākhyāyikā elements with kathā-style continuation after the first segment ends.
Khanda Section: Sahitya-shastra (Kavya–katha-prakarana: narrative genres and definitions)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A manuscript scene showing two narrative streams: the first ends, and the second begins in kathā style; scribes and storytellers indicate the mixed genre parikathā.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, storyteller (kathaka) gesturing to two scroll panels; first panel concludes, second continues; clear visual transition, warm earthy palette, scholarly ambience.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, ornate manuscript and stylus, two framed story vignettes with gold borders; a narrator points from the completed vignette to the continuing kathā vignette.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic diagram-like composition: two narrative blocks labeled ākhyāyikā and kathā blending into parikathā; fine lines, soft colors, instructional clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, court librarian and munshi with illustrated folios; one folio closed (completed), another open (continuing), delicate marginalia suggesting genre mixture."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Khamaj","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: तयोर् = तयोः + (र्-आदेशः); कथामनुधावति = कथाम् + अनुधावति; कथाख्यायिकयोः = कथा + आख्यायिकयोः (स्वर-सन्धि); कथākhyāyikayor = ... + योः; मिश्रभावात् = मिश्रभावात् (समास)
Related Themes: Agni Purana 336 (kathā-prakaraṇa: genre definitions around kathā/ākhyāyikā/parikathā)
FAQs
This verse imparts Sahitya-shastra (literary science) knowledge: it defines parikathā as a narrative form produced by mixing kathā and ākhyāyikā, where the subsequent narration proceeds in the manner of a kathā after the first concludes.
By codifying fine-grained literary categories (kathā, ākhyāyikā, parikathā), the Agni Purana functions as a reference manual not only for dharma and ritual but also for classical Sanskrit aesthetics and narrative theory.
While primarily technical, the instruction supports dharmic transmission: correct genre-knowledge helps preserve and communicate sacred and ethical narratives accurately, strengthening śravaṇa (listening) and smṛti (remembered tradition).