Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 8
Chapter 166: वर्णधर्मादिकथनं
Exposition of Varṇa-Dharma and Related Topics
अनुवादं स्मृतिः सूते कार्यार्थमिति मानवाः गुणार्थः परिसङ्ख्यार्थो वानुवादो विशेषतः
anuvādaṃ smṛtiḥ sūte kāryārthamiti mānavāḥ guṇārthaḥ parisaṅkhyārtho vānuvādo viśeṣataḥ
মানুষ বলে, স্মৃতি অনুবাদকে কার্য-প্রয়োগের জন্য পুনরুক্তি হিসেবে নির্দেশ করে। বিশেষত অনুবাদ দুই প্রকার—(১) গুণার্থ এবং (২) পরিসংখ্যার্থ।
Lord Agni (instructional narration in Agni Purana)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Alamkara","secondary_vidya":"Vyakarana","practical_application":"Use the concept of anuvāda (restatement) to interpret technical statements: identify whether a restatement serves to highlight a quality (guṇārtha) or to restrict by enumeration (parisaṅkhyārtha), aiding correct application in śāstra and kāvya analysis.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Anuvāda: Guṇārtha and Parisaṅkhyārtha","lookup_keywords":["anuvāda","guṇārtha","parisaṅkhyārtha","smṛti","kāryārtha"],"quick_summary":"Anuvāda is a purposeful restatement for application; it either emphasizes a qualifying feature or restricts meaning by excluding non-enumerated cases."}
Concept: Meaning is guided by function: restatement is not redundancy but a tool for application—either to qualify or to restrict scope.
Application: In reading śāstra, treat repeated statements as anuvāda and decide whether they add a qualifier (guṇa) or enforce exclusion via enumeration (parisaṅkhyā), preventing misapplication.
Khanda Section: Sahitya-shastra (Kavya, Alankara, and technical definitions)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A scholar explains the term ‘anuvāda’ with two branches—guṇārtha and parisaṅkhyārtha—shown as a teaching diagram beside palm-leaf manuscripts.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, scholarly pavilion with palm-leaf texts, a stylized tree diagram labeled ‘anuvāda’ splitting into ‘guṇārtha’ and ‘parisaṅkhyārtha’, bold lines, decorative borders, serene academic mood.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central seated vidvān with gold halo holding a manuscript, two gold-embossed panels showing ‘guṇārtha’ (a jewel/quality symbol) and ‘parisaṅkhyārtha’ (a numbered list motif), rich colors and ornate detailing.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clean pedagogical illustration: blackboard-like panel with definitions and examples, teacher pointing with stylus, students with palm-leaf notebooks, fine linework and soft shading.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate study room with manuscripts and inkpots, scholar presenting a bifurcated chart, delicate calligraphy in margins, refined pastel palette and precise detailing."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Saraswati","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: कार्यार्थमिति = कार्य-अर्थम् + इति; परिसङ्ख्यार्थो = परिसङ्ख्या-अर्थः; वानुवादो = वा + अनुवादः
Related Themes: Agni Purana sāhitya-śāstra sections defining terms and categories; Agni Purana dharma hermeneutics (vikalpa/niyama style rules)
FAQs
It imparts interpretive/śāstric knowledge: how to identify anuvāda (a purposeful restatement) and distinguish its two functional types—quality-indicating (guṇārtha) and restrictive enumeration (parisaṅkhyārtha)—for correct application of rules.
By preserving technical categories used in Sanskrit śāstra (especially Mīmāṃsā/grammar/poetics), the Agni Purana functions as a compendium that includes not only ritual and myth but also rule-based interpretive frameworks for understanding authoritative texts.
Correctly discerning whether a statement is an actionable injunction or a restatement prevents misapplication of dharma, supporting right conduct (dharma-pravṛtti) and thereby aligning actions with scriptural intent.