Agni Purana — Sahitya-shastra, Shloka 18
काव्यगुणविवेकः
Examination of the Qualities of Poetry
शब्दार्थवुपकुर्वाणो नाम्नोभयगुणः स्मृतः तस्य प्रसादः सौभाग्यं यथासङ्ख्यं प्रशस्तता
śabdārthavupakurvāṇo nāmnobhayaguṇaḥ smṛtaḥ tasya prasādaḥ saubhāgyaṃ yathāsaṅkhyaṃ praśastatā
الاسم الذي ينفع من جهة اللفظ/الصوت (śabda) ومن جهة المعنى (artha) معًا يُذكر أنه ذو فضيلتين لاسمٍ كامل. وصفاؤه المُرضي، المسمّى «براسادا (prasāda)»، يُقال إنه يجلب السعد؛ ثم بحسب الترتيب ينال المرء الاستحسان والجدارة بالثناء.
Lord Agni (teaching Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Alamkara","secondary_vidya":"Vyakarana","practical_application":"Selecting names/titles (for characters, works, persons, places) that are excellent both phonetically and semantically to enhance reception, memorability, and auspicious public perception.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Nāma-guṇa (Twofold Excellence of a Name): Sound & Meaning","lookup_keywords":["nāma","śabda-artha","ubhayaguṇa","prasāda","saubhāgya"],"quick_summary":"A good name serves both in pleasing sound-form and apt meaning. Such naming yields clarity/pleasantness and is praised as bringing auspiciousness and commendability in due order."}
Alamkara Type: Anuprāsa (implied relevance via pleasing sound)
Concept: Language ethics/aesthetics: the excellence of naming lies in harmony of sound and sense, producing social and aesthetic auspiciousness.
Application: In composing kavya or naming rituals/works: test a name for phonetic sweetness (easy articulation, euphony) and semantic fitness (non-contradictory, elevating meaning).
Khanda Section: Sahitya-shastra (Nama-vidya / Lexicography and semantics)
Primary Rasa: Shanta
Secondary Rasa: Adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A poet chooses a character’s name: two scales balance 'śabda' (sound) and 'artha' (meaning); the chosen name shines, and a scroll shows 'prasāda', 'saubhāgya', 'praśastatā' in sequence.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, poet with stylus and palm-leaf, symbolic balance scale with labels śabda/artha, glowing script, earthy tones and decorative floral borders.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-leaf on the written name, ornate scale motif, rich jewel colors, auspicious motifs (lotus, conch) framing the concept of saubhāgya.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, didactic illustration: checklist-like panel for śabda-guṇa and artha-guṇa, poet and student, fine lines and soft shading.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, atelier scene with calligrapher and poet, elegant cartouche containing the chosen name, subtle symbolism of sound/meaning harmony."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Raga Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: शब्दार्थवुपकुर्वाणो = शब्दार्थम् + उपकुर्वाणः; नाम्नोभयगुणः = नाम्नः + उभयगुणः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 345.19-20 (prasāda, saubhāgya, udāratva as guṇas)
FAQs
It teaches nāma-vidyā in a technical sense: an ideal name should be strong in both śabda (phonetic/lexical form) and artha (meaning), and such well-formed naming is regarded as auspicious and commendable.
Beyond theology and ritual, the Agni Purana also preserves Sahitya- and vyākaraṇa-adjacent principles—here, a compact rule about linguistic quality and the cultural theory of auspicious naming.
Choosing or using a name that is pleasing in form and meaningful in sense is portrayed as generating saubhāgya (auspicious success) and social-spiritual praśastatā (praiseworthiness), aligning speech with dharmic order.