Agni Purana — Sahitya-shastra, Shloka 18
Discrimination of the Qualities of Poetry (Kāvya-guṇa-viveka) — Closing Verse/Colophon Transition
प्रयुक्तवरशब्देन तथा शब्दान्तरेण च नावर्तते पदावृत्तौ वाच्यमावर्तते पदम्
prayuktavaraśabdena tathā śabdāntareṇa ca nāvartate padāvṛttau vācyamāvartate padam
পদাৱৃত্তি (শব্দৰ পুনৰাবৃত্তি)ত যদি পৰ্যায়বাচী শ্ৰেষ্ঠ শব্দ ব্যৱহাৰ কৰা হয়, বা অন্য শব্দৰূপ লোৱা হয়, তেন্তে তাক দোষজনক পুনৰাবৃত্তি নুবুজে; য’ত একে পদ একেবাৰে তেনেকৈ পুনৰ আহে, তাতেই ‘আৱৃত্তি’ বুজিব লাগে।
Lord Agni (traditional Agni Purana narrator) instructing sage Vasiṣṭha
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Alamkara","secondary_vidya":"Vyakarana","practical_application":"Practical rule for editors/poets: padāvṛtti (faulty word repetition) is counted only when the identical word recurs; using a synonym or a different word-form avoids the doṣa.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Padāvṛtti: When repetition counts (same word only)","lookup_keywords":["padāvṛtti","punarukti","paryāya","śabdāntara","kāvya-śuddhi"],"quick_summary":"Word-repetition is not charged when a synonym or a different lexical form is used. The doṣa applies only when the very same word is repeated."}
Alamkara Type: Doṣa (Padāvṛtti) with apavāda (exception)
Concept: Precision in defining a fault: repetition is formally tied to identity of the word-token, not merely similarity of sense.
Application: When revising, replace repeated lexemes with paryāyas or alternate derivational forms to maintain variety without changing meaning.
Khanda Section: Sahitya-shastra (Vyakarana & Kavya-śāstra: rules of diction and repetition)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A manuscript margin shows the same word circled twice (fault), then corrected by substituting a synonym; a teacher demonstrates swapping terms while keeping meaning constant.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, scribe and guru over palm-leaf, repeated word marked in red, synonym written beside, restrained palette and bold outlines.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold-highlighted manuscript and stylus, two word-forms displayed like medallions—same word repeated vs synonym substitution—rich ornamentation.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore, instructional close-up: before/after correction panels, neat Devanagari, teacher’s hand pointing, soft colors and fine detailing.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, atelier scene with poet revising couplet, assistant offering a thesaurus-like list of paryāyas, intricate border patterns."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Hamsadhwani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: nāvartate: न + आवर्तते; padāvṛttau: पद + आवृत्तौ; prayukta-vara-śabdena treated as multi-member tatpuruṣa compound.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 346.17 (punaruktatva classification)
FAQs
A technical rule of Sanskrit poetics/grammar: in padāvṛtti (word repetition), using a synonym or different wording avoids the fault of repetition; only the exact same word repeating counts as true repetition.
It shows the Agni Purana’s coverage beyond ritual and mythology into śāstraic disciplines like vyākaraṇa and kāvya-śāstra, preserving concrete compositional rules used in Sanskrit literary theory.
By promoting precise and refined speech, it supports disciplined learning (vidyā) and careful transmission of dharma-texts—qualities traditionally regarded as purifying and conducive to merit through correct study and teaching.