Agni Purana — Sahitya-shastra, Shloka 16
काव्यगुणविवेकः
Examination of the Qualities of Poetry
अभिप्रेतं प्रति यतो निर्वाहस्योपपादिकाः युक्तयो हेतुगर्भिण्यः प्रौढाप्रौढिरुदाहृता
abhipretaṃ prati yato nirvāhasyopapādikāḥ yuktayo hetugarbhiṇyaḥ prauḍhāprauḍhirudāhṛtā
অভিপ্রেত অর্থের প্রতি যে যুক্তিসমূহ বক্তব্যকে প্রতিষ্ঠা করে শেষ পর্যন্ত বহন করে এবং যার মধ্যে হেতু অন্তর্নিহিত থাকে, সেগুলি দুই প্রকার—প্রৌঢ় ও অপ্রৌঢ়।
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha, as per the Agni Purana’s common narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Alamkara","secondary_vidya":"Vyakarana","practical_application":"Classifying and deploying yukti (reasoned connective devices) to carry an argument or poetic discourse to completion with implicit causality, improving coherence in kavya, natya dialogue, and shastric exposition.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Yukti (Reasoned Device) — Prauḍha/Aprauḍha","lookup_keywords":["yukti","hetugarbha","prauḍha","aprauḍha","nirvaha"],"quick_summary":"Yukti is a discourse-sustaining reasoning device aligned to the intended meaning and containing an implicit cause (hetu). It is classified into mature (prauḍha) and less mature (aprauḍha) forms for stronger or weaker argumentative/poetic propulsion."}
Alamkara Type: Arthālaṅkāra (Yukti as a reasoning/connection device in discourse)
Concept: Reasoning that embeds causality and sustains a thesis must be graded by maturity to ensure successful completion (nirvāha) of meaning.
Application: In commentary, debate, and literary composition: choose prauḍha-yukti for dense inference and aprauḍha-yukti for simpler audiences; ensure each transition contains an implicit hetu.
Khanda Section: Sahitya-shastra (Kavya/Natya/Alankara and technical rhetoric)
Primary Rasa: Shanta
Secondary Rasa: Adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A learned teacher in a manuscript hall points to a palm-leaf text, showing two columns labeled prauḍha and aprauḍha yukti, with arrows indicating how implicit causes connect statements to complete a discourse.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, warm earthy palette, scholar-guru seated on a wooden peetha, palm-leaf manuscripts, stylized Sanskrit labels 'prauḍha' 'aprauḍha', visual arrows linking sentences, calm didactic ambience.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-leaf accents on manuscript borders, a guru with halo-like aureole (symbolic of vidya), two ornate panels representing prauḍha/aprauḍha reasoning, rich reds and greens, temple-like interior.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, fine linework, instructional diagram feel: two graded ladders of reasoning steps with 'hetu' embedded, scholar demonstrating to students, muted pastel background.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly library scene, scholars debating, one points to a folio with two headings prauḍha/aprauḍha, delicate architectural arches, detailed textiles, restrained palette."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Raga Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: निर्वाहस्योपपादिकाः = निर्वाहस्य + उपपादिकाः; प्रौढाप्रौढिरुदाहृता = प्रौढा + अप्रौढिः + उदाहृता.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 345 (Sahitya-shastra section: guṇa/doṣa, artha-vyutpatti, nāma-guṇa, prasāda)
FAQs
It imparts Sahitya-shastra knowledge: how to use yukti (structured reasoning) that implicitly contains its hetu (cause) to justify and complete a discourse, classified into prauḍha (mature) and aprauḍha (less mature) forms.
Beyond ritual and dharma, the Agni Purana catalogs technical disciplines like rhetoric and poetics; this verse functions like a sutra-style definition used in Sanskrit literary theory to systematize methods of coherent argumentation in composition.
By promoting disciplined, truthful, and well-grounded speech (where reasons are properly embedded), it supports dharmic communication and right understanding—seen traditionally as conducive to clarity (buddhi-śuddhi) and reduced error in conduct.