Agni Purana — Sahitya-shastra, Shloka 40
Discrimination of the Qualities of Poetry (Kāvya-guṇa-viveka) — Closing Verse/Colophon Transition
अज्ञानाज्ज्ञानतस्त्वेकं ब्रह्मैव परमार्थसत् विष्णुः स्वर्गादिहेतुः स शब्दालङ्काररूपवान् अपरा च परा विद्या तां ज्ञात्वा मुच्यते भवात्
ajñānājjñānatastvekaṃ brahmaiva paramārthasat viṣṇuḥ svargādihetuḥ sa śabdālaṅkārarūpavān aparā ca parā vidyā tāṃ jñātvā mucyate bhavāt
من منظور الجهل ومن منظور المعرفة، فإنّ البراهمان الواحد وحده هو الحقيقة العليا (paramārtha-sat). وهذه الحقيقة نفسها، بوصفها فيشنو (Viṣṇu)، هي سبب السماء وما شابهها، وهي متجسّدة في صورة اللفظ والزينة (أي اللغة والمحسّنات البلاغية). والمعرفة نوعان: دنيا وعليا؛ وبمعرفة المعرفة العليا يتحرّر المرء من صيرورة العالم، أي السَّمسارا (saṃsāra).
Lord Agni (traditional Agni Purana narrator) instructing Sage Vasiṣṭha
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Alamkara","secondary_vidya":"Philosophy","practical_application":"Integrate literary training (śabda and alaṅkāra) with spiritual discernment: treat language as a vehicle pointing to Brahman/Viṣṇu; pursue parā-vidyā for liberation while using aparā-vidyā skillfully for teaching and devotion.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Śabda–Alaṅkāra as Form of Reality; Parā/Aparā Vidyā and Mokṣa","lookup_keywords":["śabda-alaṅkāra","viṣṇu","parā vidyā","aparā vidyā","mokṣa"],"quick_summary":"Affirms Brahman alone as supreme reality seen through ignorance/knowledge; the same is Viṣṇu as cause of heavenly attainments and is expressed through word and ornamentation. Practical takeaway: master lower arts without mistaking them for the goal; realize higher knowledge to be freed from saṃsāra."}
Alamkara Type: Shabda-alankara (general category)
Concept: Two standpoints (avidyā/vidyā) regarding Brahman; parā vs aparā vidyā; realization of parā vidyā grants mokṣa.
Application: Use study of language/poetics as preparatory discipline (aparā), then turn to direct realization/meditation and discrimination (parā) to end saṃsāra.
Khanda Section: Sahitya-shastra (Shabda–Alankara and Vidya classification)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A composite scene: Viṣṇu as luminous Brahman at center; around him, flowing Sanskrit syllables and ornamental patterns representing śabda and alaṅkāra; two paths labeled aparā (books, arts) and parā (meditation) leading to liberation beyond saṃsāra’s wheel.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Viṣṇu in serene stance with radiant aura, surrounding bands of stylized Sanskrit akṣaras and floral ornaments, left side scholars with manuscripts (aparā), right side yogin in meditation (parā), saṃsāra-cakra fading at the bottom, traditional colors and bold outlines.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, Viṣṇu with heavy gold work and embossed halo, gold-ornamented Sanskrit letters forming a garland, two registers: lower scholars and poets (aparā) and upper meditative ascent (parā), rich reds/greens and ornate frame.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clear didactic composition: labeled ‘aparā vidyā’ (grammar/poetics tools) and ‘parā vidyā’ (jnana/meditation), Viṣṇu-Brahman central, subtle saṃsāra wheel motif, soft shading and precise linework.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, allegorical garden pavilion: Viṣṇu as a luminous central figure, calligraphic ribbons of Sanskrit words and ornamental motifs, scholars debating on one side, a contemplative ascetic on the other, delicate detailing and balanced composition."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Madhyamavati","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: अज्ञानाज्ज्ञानतः = अज्ञानात् + ज्ञानतः (ज्-आगम/संयोग); ज्ञानतस्त्वेकम् = ज्ञानतः + तु + एकम्; ब्रह्मैव = ब्रह्म + एव; स्वर्गादिहेतुः = स्वर्ग + आदि + हेतुः; शब्दालङ्काररूपवान् = शब्द + अलङ्कार + रूपवान्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 346.36 (Brahman as cause); Agni Purana 346.39 (knowledge clarity and arthakriyā)
FAQs
It classifies knowledge into aparā (lower—linguistic, textual, and disciplinary learning such as śabda and alaṅkāra) and parā (higher—realization of Brahman); liberation is said to follow from knowing the parā vidyā.
It explicitly bridges śāstraic domains—Sanskrit language/poetics (śabda–alaṅkāra) and metaphysics (Brahman/Viṣṇu, parā-vidyā)—showing how the Agni Purana integrates technical literary theory with Vedāntic soteriology.
The verse teaches that recognizing Brahman/Viṣṇu as the ultimate reality and attaining higher knowledge (parā vidyā) dissolves bondage to bhava (saṃsāra), culminating in mokṣa rather than merely heavenly merit.