Agni Purana — Sahitya-shastra, Shloka 57
Chapter 342: शब्दालङ्काराः
Verbal/Sound-based Ornaments
द्वितीयषष्ठाः सदृशाश् चतुर्थपञ्चमावपि आद्यन्तपादयोस्तुल्यौ परार्धसप्तमावपि
dvitīyaṣaṣṭhāḥ sadṛśāś caturthapañcamāvapi ādyantapādayostulyau parārdhasaptamāvapi
الـpāda الثاني والسادس متشابهان؛ وكذلك الرابع والخامس. والـpāda الأول والأخير متماثلان؛ وكذلك الـpāda السابع في النصف اللاحق من المخطط العروضي.
Lord Agni (in instruction on Sahitya-shastra/Chandas to sage Vashistha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Alamkara","secondary_vidya":"Vyakarana","practical_application":"Vṛtta-vibhāga: pāda-sāmya-yojanā (2=6, 4=5, 1=8/antya) ityādi niyamaiḥ chandas-racanāyāṃ samatāṃ rakṣati; chandas-śuddhi-parīkṣaṇe upayujyate.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Pāda-sāmya-yugmāni (2–6, 4–5, 1–antya)","lookup_keywords":["pāda-sāmya","dvitīya-ṣaṣṭha","caturtha-pañcama","ādya-antya","chandas-krama"],"quick_summary":"Metrical scheme defines which pādas mirror each other: 2 with 6, 4 with 5, and first with last; additionally a seventh-position rule applies in the latter half. This is a checklist for verifying a vṛtta’s internal symmetry."}
Concept: racanāyāṃ sāmya-niyamaḥ—pāda-yugmānāṃ tulya-bhāvaḥ chandas-siddhi-kāraṇam
Application: Kaviḥ pāda-krameṇa ‘pairing’ kṛtvā (2↔6, 4↔5, 1↔8/antya) vṛttaṃ saṃśodhayet; paṭhakaḥ chandas-bhaṅgaṃ śīghraṃ jānīyāt.
Khanda Section: Sahitya-shastra (Chandas/Prosody and Metre Classification)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A metrical chart with eight pādas/segments is shown; matching pairs (2–6, 4–5, 1–8) are connected by lines while a teacher explains symmetry to students.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, bold outlines, schematic eight-pāda band with connecting arcs between paired pādas, guru gesturing with stylus, students seated, warm earthy palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold-highlighted pairing lines on a decorative metrical diagram, guru in ornate seat, manuscript and stylus, rich jewel tones.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clean instructional diagram with numbered pādas and pair-links, subtle shading, scholarly ambience.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, precise numbered metrical grid, thin red lines linking paired pādas, scholars in a library setting, detailed borders."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Raga Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: सदृशाश् → सदृशाः (visarga before c); चतुर्थपञ्चमावपि → चतुर्थपञ्चमौ अपि; आद्यन्तपादयोस्तुल्यौ → आद्यन्तपादयोः तुल्यौ; परार्धसप्तमावपि → परार्धसप्तमौ अपि.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 342.56 (sthāna-sāmya); Agni Purana 342.58–59 (krama-yojana, Muraja-lakṣaṇa)
FAQs
It teaches a chandas (prosody) rule: which pādas (metrical quarters) must match each other (2=6, 4=5, 1=last, and a specified 7th-pāda relation in the latter half), aiding correct composition and verification of a metre.
Beyond theology and ritual, the Agni Purana also codifies Sahitya-shastra—technical Sanskrit poetics and metre—showing its coverage of literary science alongside other disciplines.
Accurate chandas preserves the integrity of sacred and classical recitation; maintaining correct metrical form is traditionally viewed as supporting right pronunciation and disciplined transmission of dharmic knowledge.