Agni Purana — Kosha, Shloka 30
Chapter 360 — अव्ययवर्गाः
Groups of Indeclinables
निःषमं दुःषमं गर्ह्ये यथास्वन्तु यथायथं मृषा मिथ्या च वितथे यथार्थन्तु यथातथं
niḥṣamaṃ duḥṣamaṃ garhye yathāsvantu yathāyathaṃ mṛṣā mithyā ca vitathe yathārthantu yathātathaṃ
Im tadelnswerten Gebrauch sagt man «niḥṣama» (außer Maß) und «duḥṣama» (schlecht bemessen), ebenso «yathāsvam» (wie gehört) und «yathāyatham» (auf welche Weise auch immer). Für Falsches und Unwahres gebraucht man «mṛṣā», «mithyā» und «vitatha»; für das Wirkliche hingegen «yathārtha», das heißt «yathā-tatha» (so, wie es in Wahrheit ist).
Lord Agni (teaching to sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s instructional discourse)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Alamkara","secondary_vidya":"Vyakarana","practical_application":"Lexical discrimination in composition and commentary: choosing precise synonyms for censurable usage, falsity, and truth; improving semantic accuracy in kāvya and śāstra.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Śabda-bheda: terms for censurable usage, falsity, and truth","lookup_keywords":["niḥṣama","duḥṣama","mṛṣā","mithyā","yathārtha"],"quick_summary":"For blameworthy/censurable expression use niḥṣama/duḥṣama and related ‘as-heard/as-in-whatever-way’ qualifiers; for falsity use mṛṣā/mithyā/vitatha; for truth use yathārtha (yathā-tathā)."}
Concept: Truth-conditions in language: differentiate blameworthy imprecision, falsity, and accurate correspondence (yathārtha).
Application: In exegesis, label statements as vitatha/mithyā when they fail correspondence; reserve yathārtha for accurate description; use niḥṣama/duḥṣama to critique disproportionate or improper expression.
Khanda Section: Sahitya-shastra (Kavya/Alankara and Lexical-Technical Definitions)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A lexicographer-poet annotates a manuscript: columns labeled ‘gārhya’ (censurable), ‘vitatha’ (false), ‘yathārtha’ (true), with example phrases being corrected.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, scholar with palm-leaf manuscript, three-panel layout showing ‘false’ words darkened and ‘yathārtha’ highlighted, stylized script motifs, temple-school ambience.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-bordered manuscript pages with headings mṛṣā/mithyā/vitatha and yathārtha, seated poet-scribe, ornate desk, luminous gold accents for ‘truth’.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic chart-like composition, neat calligraphy, scholar pointing to synonym sets, subdued colors for clarity and instruction.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, atelier scene with calligrapher and proofreader, marginal glosses marking ‘mithyā’ vs ‘yathārtha’, fine detailing of paper, inkpots, and pens."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: yathāsvantu = yathā + svam + tu; yathāyathaṃ = yathā + yatham; yathārthantu = yathārtham + tu; yathātathaṃ = yathā + tatham.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 360 (lexical-technical definitions in sāhitya section)
FAQs
It imparts semantic/lexical discrimination used in śāstra and kāvya: how Sanskrit classifies blameworthy or defective expression (niḥṣama, duḥṣama) versus false statements (mṛṣā, mithyā, vitatha) and truthful, reality-corresponding expression (yathārtha, yathātatha).
Beyond ritual and dharma, the Agni Purana preserves compact technical lists from linguistic and poetic disciplines—here, a mini-glossary for evaluating correctness, falsity, and factual correspondence—showing its coverage of Sanskrit knowledge-systems alongside religious instruction.
By distinguishing truthful speech (yathārtha) from falsehood (mṛṣā/mithyā/vitatha) and censurable usage, it supports dharmic conduct through right speech (satya) and avoidance of misleading or blameworthy expression, which is traditionally linked to purity of mind and merit.