Agni Purana — Sahitya-shastra, Shloka 1
काव्यगुणविवेकः
Examination of the Qualities of Poetry
इत्य् आग्नेये महापुराणे अलङ्कारे शब्दर्थालङ्कारनिरूपणं नाम चतुश् चत्वारिंशदधिकत्रिशततमो ऽध्यायः अथ पञ्चचत्वारिंशदधिकत्रिशततमो ऽध्यायः काव्यगुणविवेकः अग्निर् उवाच अलंकृतमपि प्रीत्यै न काव्यं निर्गुणं भवेत् वपुष्यललिते स्त्रीणां हारो भारायते परं
ity āgneye mahāpurāṇe alaṅkāre śabdarthālaṅkāranirūpaṇaṃ nāma catuś catvāriṃśadadhikatriśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ atha pañcacatvāriṃśadadhikatriśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ kāvyaguṇavivekaḥ agnir uvāca alaṃkṛtamapi prītyai na kāvyaṃ nirguṇaṃ bhavet vapuṣyalalite strīṇāṃ hāro bhārāyate paraṃ
وهكذا ينتهي في «أغني مهابورانا» الفصل الرابع والأربعون بعد الثلاثمائة المعنون «بيان المحسّنات اللفظية والمعنوية». ويبدأ الآن الفصل الخامس والأربعون بعد الثلاثمائة «تمحيص خصال الشعر». قال أغني: إن القصيدة وإن زُيّنت بالمحسّنات لا تكون مُرضية إذا خلت من خصال الشعر؛ فكما أن المرأة ذات القوام الرشيق بطبعها قد يصبح العقد عليها عبئًا لا زينة.
Lord Agni
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Alamkara","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Guides poets/critics to prioritize guṇa (poetic qualities) over mere ornamentation; helps in editing and evaluating verses for aesthetic pleasure.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Guṇa-prādhānya over Alaṅkāra (Ornament without qualities is burdensome)","lookup_keywords":["kāvya-guṇa","alaṅkāra","prīti","nirguṇa-kāvya","hāra-dṛṣṭānta"],"quick_summary":"Ornamentation alone cannot make poetry pleasing if guṇas are absent; like a necklace on an already graceful woman becoming a burden when not suited."}
Alamkara Type: Dṛṣṭānta (illustrative analogy)
Concept: Value lies in intrinsic excellence, not external decoration; suitability determines beauty.
Application: In composition and critique, first secure guṇas (clarity, grace, depth) before adding alaṅkāras.
Khanda Section: Sahitya-shastra (Alankara & Kavya-guna)
Primary Rasa: Shanta
Secondary Rasa: Shringara
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Agni as teacher expounds poetics; beside him an elegant woman with a heavy necklace illustrating that ornament without suitability becomes a burden.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, Agni-deva seated as guru with palm-leaf manuscript, warm ochres and reds, a graceful lady in traditional attire holding a heavy hāra, didactic composition, flat perspective, ornate borders","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, Agni as radiant guru with gold halo, rich jewel tones, embossed gold work on the necklace motif, a poised woman showing the necklace as burden, temple-like backdrop","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, fine linework and soft shading, classroom-like scene of Agni instructing students in kāvya, inset vignette of woman and necklace as analogy, muted elegance","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly literary salon with Agni depicted as sage-like teacher, poets listening, detailed textiles, a lady demonstrating the necklace-burden analogy, delicate architectural setting"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: Resolved: इत्य्→इति; अग्निर्→अग्निः; शब्दमाश्रयते etc not in this verse; अलंकृतमपि→अलं-कृतम् अपि; वपुष्यललिते→वपुषि अललिते; भवेत् kept as is; 'o 'dhyāyaḥ'→'adhyāyaḥ' after avagraha.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Sahitya-shastra section on Śabdālaṅkāra and Arthālaṅkāra (preceding chapter); Agni Purana: Kavya-doṣa/guṇa discussions (subsequent verses in same adhyāya)
FAQs
It imparts kāvya-śāstra knowledge: poetic pleasure (prīti) depends on guṇas (core qualities like clarity, sweetness, vigor), not merely on alaṅkāras (decorative figures of speech).
By treating Sanskrit poetics (alaṅkāra and kāvya-guṇa theory) alongside other disciplines, the Agni Purana functions as a compendium that preserves technical śāstric learning beyond purely devotional or mythic material.
It frames right expression as a form of dharmic refinement: inner excellence (guṇa) should precede outer display (alaṅkāra), echoing the broader Purāṇic ethic that substance and virtue outweigh ornament and show.