Agni Purana — Sahitya-shastra, Shloka 43
Chapter 342: शब्दालङ्काराः
Verbal/Sound-based Ornaments
प्राक्पदस्यान्तिमं प्रत्यक् पादादौ प्रातिलोम्यतः अन्त्यपादान्तिमञ्चाद्यपादादावक्षरद्वयं
prākpadasyāntimaṃ pratyak pādādau prātilomyataḥ antyapādāntimañcādyapādādāvakṣaradvayaṃ
وبقلب (الترتيب) في مطلع الـpāda، يُؤخَذ المقطع الأخير من الـpāda السابقة؛ وكذلك يُؤخَذ المقطع الأخير من الـpāda الأخيرة. وهكذا يكون في بداية الـpāda الأولى زوجٌ من المقاطع (يُستكمَل أو يُتعرَّف عليه).
Lord Agni (instructing sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Alamkara","secondary_vidya":"Vyakarana","practical_application":"Applying reversal/retrograde pāda-linking rules in metrical composition or analysis: carrying over final syllables from adjacent pādas to determine initial syllable pairs.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Prātilomya Pāda-Linking: Using Previous/Last Pāda Finals as Initial Syllables","lookup_keywords":["prātilomya","pāda-ādi","antima-akṣara","chandas-procedure","pāda-sandhi"],"quick_summary":"Gives a method for pāda-initial determination by reversing order: take the final syllable of the preceding pāda, and also the final syllable of the last pāda—yielding a two-syllable start for the first pāda in the scheme."}
Concept: Krama (sequence) can be manipulated (prātilomya) to reveal hidden structure; disciplined constraints generate coherence.
Application: In composing constrained metres or patterned verses, use prescribed carry-over syllables to maintain the intended cyclic linkage across pādas.
Khanda Section: Sahitya-shastra (Chandas/Prosody and Pada-analysis)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A schematic showing four pādas in a loop: arrows from each pāda’s final syllable to the next pāda’s beginning, and an arrow from the last pāda’s final syllable back to the first pāda’s start, forming a two-syllable initial pair.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: stylized circular diagram of four pādas with arrows, palm-leaf manuscript aesthetic, teacher indicating the backward linkage (prātilomya), earthy tones and temple-school setting.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: decorative circular prosody chart with gold-highlighted arrows linking pāda endings to beginnings, scholar-scribe motif, rich reds and greens, embossed manuscript frame.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: crisp instructional chart—four pāda boxes, highlighted antima-akṣaras, arrows showing reversal, small Sanskrit labels 'antima' 'ādi' 'prātilomya'.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: a diagram on paper held by a scholar, fine arrows and annotations, elegant border, subdued palette with precise linework."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Hamsadhwani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: प्राक्पदस्य = प्राक् + पदस्य; पदस्यान्तिमं = पदस्य + अन्तिमम्; पादादौ = पाद + आदौ; अन्त्यपादान्तिमञ्च = अन्त्यपादान्तिमम् + च; आद्यपादादावक्षरद्वयं = आद्यपादादौ + अक्षरद्वयम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 342 (continued chandas/pāda-lakṣaṇa rules)
FAQs
It teaches a technical prosodic procedure: in metrical/pada analysis, syllables may be identified or supplied by a reverse-order (prātiloma) rule linking the end of a preceding unit (pada/pāda) to the beginning of another.
Beyond theology and ritual, the Agni Purana codifies literary-technical disciplines like chandas (prosody), showing it functions as a compendium that includes methods for verse construction, parsing, and metrical correctness.
While primarily technical, correct chandas and accurate recitation support faultless mantra/śāstra transmission; precision in syllables is traditionally held to preserve efficacy (śakti) and avoid errors (doṣa) in sacred learning.