Agni Purana — Kosha, Shloka 3
Chapter 360 — अव्ययवर्गाः
Groups of Indeclinables
स्वस्त्याशीः क्षेमपुण्यादौ प्रकर्षे लङ्घने ऽप्यति स्वित्प्रश्ने च वितर्के च तु स्याद्भेदे ऽवधारणे
svastyāśīḥ kṣemapuṇyādau prakarṣe laṅghane 'pyati svitpraśne ca vitarke ca tu syādbhede 'vadhāraṇe
‘স্বস্তি’ অব্যয় আশীৰ্বাদত আৰু ক্ষেম-পুণ্য আদি সূচক বাক্যৰ আৰম্ভণিতে ব্যৱহৃত হয়। ‘অতি’ অতিশয়তা/উৎকৰ্ষ আৰু লঙ্ঘন (অতিক্ৰম) অৰ্থত। ‘স্বিত্’ প্ৰশ্ন আৰু বিতৰ্কমিশ্ৰ সন্দেহত। ‘তু’ ভেদ/বিৰোধ আৰু অৱধাৰণ (দৃঢ় নিৰ্ধাৰণ) বুজায়।
Lord Agni (instructing sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vyakarana","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Use svasti correctly in benedictory openings; distinguish ati as excess vs transgression; employ svit for interrogative/deliberative doubt; use tu for contrast and emphatic restriction in precise exposition.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Avyaya-artha: svasti, ati, svit, tu","lookup_keywords":["svasti-ashih","ati-prakarsa","ati-langhana","svit-prasna","tu-avadharana"],"quick_summary":"Gives standard semantic slots for four common indeclinables, guiding both ritualized openings (svasti) and logical discourse markers (ati/svit/tu)."}
Alamkara Type: Virodha/Pratiyoga-bodha (tu as contrast-marker in discourse)
Concept: Discourse-ethics of language: auspicious framing (svasti) and logical clarity via markers of excess, doubt, and restriction.
Application: In śāstra writing, open with svasti/āśīḥ; in argumentation, use tu to delimit claims and prevent overextension (ati) of meaning.
Khanda Section: Vyakarana (Grammar) / Avyaya-Nirukta (Particles and indeclinables)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A scribe begins a manuscript with ‘svasti’, while a teacher explains on a board the four particles and their meanings: blessing, excess/transgression, question/doubt, contrast/restriction.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, temple-school veranda; guru gestures to ‘स्वस्ति’ written large; students with palm leaves; side panels show ‘अति’ as overflowing pot, ‘स्वित्’ as questioning face, ‘तु’ as split path.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore gold-work; ‘SVASTI’ motif at top like a maṅgala; central guru; symbolic icons: overflowing vessel for ati, two thought-bubbles for svit, balance scale with divider for tu; rich ornamentation.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore instructional painting; neat labeled callouts for svasti/ati/svit/tu; examples in Devanagari; calm classroom composition with fine detailing.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature in a kitabkhana; calligrapher writing ‘svasti’ at manuscript head; scholar explaining ‘tu’ as contrast with two colored columns of text; delicate floral border."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Saraswati","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: स्वस्त्याशीः = स्वस्ति + आशीः; क्षेमपुण्यादौ = क्षेम + पुण्य + आदौ; लङ्घने ऽपि = लङ्घने + अपि; स्वित्प्रश्ने = स्वित् + प्रश्ने; स्याद्भेदे = स्यात् + भेदे; भेदे ऽवधारणे = भेदे + अवधारणे.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 360 (Avyaya/Nipāta-nirukti continuation)
FAQs
This verse imparts Vyākaraṇa-vidyā: precise semantic and contextual rules for Sanskrit indeclinables/particles—svasti, ati, svit, and tu—showing when each is correctly employed.
By codifying grammatical usage alongside other sciences, the Agni Purana functions as a compendium: it preserves not only ritual and dharma topics but also technical language rules needed for accurate recitation, interpretation, and composition.
Correct grammatical understanding supports accurate transmission of mantras, blessings, and scriptural meaning; using words like svasti appropriately aligns speech (vāk) with auspicious intent and reduces interpretive error in sacred contexts.