Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 10
Āsana–Prāṇāyāma–Pratyāhāra
Posture, Breath-control, and Withdrawal of the Senses
कन्यकः सकृदुद्घातः स वै द्वादशमात्रिकः मध्यमश् च द्विरुद्घातश् चतुर्विंशतिमात्रिकः
kanyakaḥ sakṛdudghātaḥ sa vai dvādaśamātrikaḥ madhyamaś ca dvirudghātaś caturviṃśatimātrikaḥ
‘কন্যক’ ছন্দে একবার উদ্ঘাত হয় এবং তা দ্বাদশ মাত্রার। ‘মধ্যম’ ছন্দে দ্বিবার উদ্ঘাত হয় এবং তা চতুর্বিংশতি মাত্রার।
Lord Agni (in instruction to sage Vasiṣṭha, as per the common Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Alamkara","secondary_vidya":"Vyakarana","practical_application":"Identification and composition of mātrā-based metres in recitation and literary composition; choosing the correct udghāta pattern for performance/chanting.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Kanyaka and Madhyama mātrā-chandas (udghāta and mātrā count)","lookup_keywords":["Kanyaka chandas","Madhyama chandas","udghāta","dvādaśa-mātrā","caturviṃśati-mātrā"],"quick_summary":"Defines two mātrā-metres by their opening lift (udghāta) and total mātrā count: Kanyaka (12) and Madhyama (24). Useful for scanning verses and composing rhythmically correct pādas."}
Concept: Śāstra-lakṣaṇa: knowledge is stabilized by precise definitions (saṃjñā) and measures (mātrā).
Application: Apply mātrā-counting and udghāta recognition to verify metre during study, recitation, and composition.
Khanda Section: Chandas-śāstra / Prosody (Metrical Science)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A traditional paṇḍita teaches students to count mātrās on fingers while marking udghāta; two sample rhythmic patterns labeled Kanyaka (12) and Madhyama (24).","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, warm earthy palette, a seated guru with palm-leaf manuscript, students counting mātrās with hand gestures, rhythmic wave motifs indicating udghāta, Sanskrit labels 'कन्यकः १२' and 'मध्यमः २४' in stylized script, flat decorative background","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-leaf accents on manuscript and halo around the guru, students in orderly rows, ornamental borders, clear inscription panels for Kanyaka 12 mātrā and Madhyama 24 mātrā, devotional-academic ambience","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, fine linework, instructional diagram elements: mātrā tally marks, udghāta arrows, guru pointing with stylus to a palm-leaf chart, muted pastel background","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly classroom with carpets and low desks, detailed facial expressions, a scribe illustrating mātrā counts, marginal notes showing 12 and 24 mātrās, delicate floral borders"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: सकृदुद्घातः = सकृत् + उद्घातः; मध्यमश् च = मध्यमः + च; द्विरुद्घातः = द्विः + उद्घातः; उद्घातश् चतुर्विंशति… = उद्घातः + चतुर्विंशति…
Related Themes: Agni Purana 372 (Chandas-śāstra section: mātrā-vṛtta/udghāta classifications)
FAQs
It teaches chandas-vidyā (prosody) by defining two mātrā-metres—Kanyaka (12 mātrās, single udghāta) and Madhyama (24 mātrās, double udghāta)—used for correct composition and recitation.
Beyond theology and ritual, the Agni Purāṇa preserves technical śāstric knowledge like Sanskrit metrics, giving precise formal rules (mātrā-count and udghāta-structure) for literary composition and disciplined chanting.
Accurate metre supports correct chanting and refined speech; in the Purāṇic view, disciplined recitation and well-formed expression aid ritual efficacy, clarity of meaning, and the cultivation of sāttvika learning.