Agni Purana — Sahitya-shastra, Shloka 37
Chapter 342: शब्दालङ्काराः
Verbal/Sound-based Ornaments
चक्रञ्चक्राब्जकं दण्डो मुरजाश्चेति चाष्टधा प्रत्यर्धं प्रतिपादं स्यादेकान्तरसमाक्षरा
cakrañcakrābjakaṃ daṇḍo murajāśceti cāṣṭadhā pratyardhaṃ pratipādaṃ syādekāntarasamākṣarā
ছন্দৰ বিন্যাস আঠ প্ৰকাৰ—চক্ৰ, চক্ৰ, অব্জক, দণ্ড, মুৰজ আদি। প্ৰতিটো অৰ্ধ-শ্লোক আৰু প্ৰতিটো পাদত অক্ষৰসমূহ একান্তৰে সমানভাৱে (সমাক্ষৰ) সাজিব লাগে।
Lord Agni (in discourse to sage Vasiṣṭha, in the Agni Purana’s instructional mode)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Alamkara","secondary_vidya":"Vyakarana","practical_application":"Cataloging and applying named bandha-patterns (cakra, abjaka, daṇḍa, muraja, etc.) with strict alternating syllabic/akṣara regularity across hemistichs and quarters for composing citra verses.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Eightfold Bandha Patterns and Alternating Akṣara Rule","lookup_keywords":["cakra-bandha","abjaka","daṇḍa","muraja","aṣṭadhā","ekāntara-samākṣara"],"quick_summary":"Bandha-patterns are enumerated as eight types (including cakra, abjaka, daṇḍa, muraja). The governing rule is alternating, evenly matched syllables/letters in each half-verse and each quarter-verse."}
Alamkara Type: Citra (Bandha-kāvya)
Concept: Constraint-based composition: named forms plus a generative rule (alternation) produce multiple valid realizations.
Application: Use the alternation rule as a checklist while composing/teaching; verify each pāda/ardha for matched positions to avoid bandha-break (doṣa).
Khanda Section: Sahitya-shastra (Chandas / Prosody and metrical science)
Primary Rasa: Adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: Shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A chart listing eight bandha names with small emblem diagrams: wheel (cakra), lotus (abjaka), staff (daṇḍa), drum (muraja), alongside a grid showing alternating syllables per quarter-verse.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural look, a classroom-like scene with a guru pointing to a palm-leaf chart of bandha icons (wheel, lotus, staff, drum) and an alternating-akṣara grid, warm earthy tones, traditional setting.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, central panel with gilded cakra and lotus motifs made of Sanskrit letters, side panels labeled daṇḍa and muraja, gold ornament borders, rich jewel colors.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, neat instructional board showing eight bandha headings and a worked example of ekāntara-samākṣara across pādas, fine lines, subdued palette, scholarly calm.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, an illuminated folio page with marginal diagrams of wheel/lotus/staff/drum bandhas and a metrical grid with alternating syllables, meticulous detail and calligraphy."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: चक्रञ्चक्राब्जकं = चक्रम् चक्र-अब्जकम्; मुरजाश्चेति = मुरजाः च इति; चाष्टधा = च अष्टधा; स्यादेकान्तरसमाक्षरा = स्यात् एक-अन्तर-सम-अक्षरा
Related Themes: Agni Purana 342 (bandha nomenclature and rules continuing in 342.38-342.40)
FAQs
It teaches chandas-vidyā (Sanskrit prosody): an eightfold set of named metrical pattern-types (e.g., Cakra, Abjaka, Daṇḍa, Muraja) and the rule that each half-verse and quarter-verse should maintain a regular alternating syllabic arrangement.
Beyond theology and ritual, the Agni Purana preserves technical literary science—how to classify and construct metres—showing it functions as a compendium that also trains readers in Sanskrit composition and poetic form.
Correct metre supports accurate recitation and faithful transmission of sacred and didactic texts; maintaining chandas is traditionally seen as aiding purity of speech (vāk-śuddhi) and preserving the intended power and meaning of verses.